Fascism

I was a Saudi arms dealer’s ‘pleasure wife’

"Billionaire Saudi Arabian arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi is best known for his roles in some of the most infamous political scandals of the 1980s. They include the Iran-Contra affair (he was a key middleman in the arms-for-hostages exchange) and accusations that he concealed funds alongside Philippines First Lady Imelda Marcos. But the 81-year-old, who now lives in Monaco, was also a womanizer with multiple wives and a bevy of beautiful girls at his beck and call. Among them was young American model Jill Dodd." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingI was a Saudi arms dealer’s ‘pleasure wife’

Congress to ‘fight’ 0.1% of massive Trump Saudi arms deal

"Trump has said he wants to encourage international weapons sales as a way to create jobs in the United States. Saudi Arabia agreed to buy $110 billion of U.S. arms, with options running as high as $350 billion over 10 years. The lawmakers aim to block about $500 million of the sale, the portion including precision-guided munitions and other offensive weapons. 'Given Saudi Arabia's past support of terror, poor human rights record, and questionable tactics in its war in Yemen, Congress must carefully consider and thoroughly debate if selling them billions of dollars of arms is in our best national security interest at this time,' Paul said in a statement." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCongress to ‘fight’ 0.1% of massive Trump Saudi arms deal

US Arms Both Sides, Will Supply $100 Billion in Arms to Saudi Arabia, Israel

"Details are still emerging, but the plan is for this to set out a series of growing deals over the next decade that will involve more than $300 billion going to arms dealers, not just to arm the Saudis, but in extra aid to Israel to ensure their 'qualitative military edge' over the Saudis." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS Arms Both Sides, Will Supply $100 Billion in Arms to Saudi Arabia, Israel

Smoking Pot Kicks You Off Transplant Lists — Even In States Where It’s Legal

"More than half the states in the country have legalized medical marijuana, but some hospitals still bar users from life-saving organ transplants. The policy delayed the late Riley Hancey's lung transplant for months." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSmoking Pot Kicks You Off Transplant Lists — Even In States Where It’s Legal

FBI Building National Watchlist That Gives Companies Real-Time Updates on Employees

"Employers are even offered the option to purchase lifetime subscriptions to the program for the cost of $13 per person. The decision to participate in Rap Back is at employers’ discretion. Employees have no choice in the matter. There are no laws preventing the FBI from using the data it collects for other purposes, said Jeramie Scott, an attorney with the Electronic Privacy Information Center. A massive trove of digital fingerprints collected by the FBI, he noted, could be used to open up devices like smart phones without the owner’s consent. In addition, Scott pointed out that the FBI often collects a photo of Rap Back participants’ faces." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFBI Building National Watchlist That Gives Companies Real-Time Updates on Employees

Challenge Red Light Cameras, Get Fined for ‘Practicing Engineering Without a License’

"According to the board, Järlström's research into red light cameras and their effectiveness amounts to practicing engineering without a license. No, really. Järlström is now suing the state board over that fine, arguing that it's unconstitutional to prevent someone from doing math without the government's permission." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChallenge Red Light Cameras, Get Fined for ‘Practicing Engineering Without a License’

Doctor Bloodied, Dragged By Police Off Overbooked Plane So Employees Could Fly

"Video of police officers dragging a passenger from an overbooked United Airlines flight sparked an uproar Monday on social media, and a spokesman for the airline insisted that employees had no choice but to contact authorities to remove the man. As the flight waited to depart from Chicago's O'Hare Airport, officers could be seen grabbing the screaming man from a window seat, pulling him across the armrest and dragging him down the aisle by his arms. The airline was trying to make room for four of its employees on the Sunday evening flight to Louisville, Kentucky." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDoctor Bloodied, Dragged By Police Off Overbooked Plane So Employees Could Fly

Trump comes out in support of Ex-Im Bank, reversing campaign rhetoric

"On Thursday, two Democratic senators said that Trump indicated he would support the bank following a lunch with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. In addition, they said Trump promised to fill two vacant seats on the bank's board, which in the meantime is barred from financing deals of more than $10 million. 'I specifically talked with the president about the need to get the Export-Import Bank up and running,' Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota said. 'It's great news he agreed.' Though the bank said that 90 percent of its authorizations are for small businesses, Boeing is one of its biggest beneficiaries." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTrump comes out in support of Ex-Im Bank, reversing campaign rhetoric