Joining host Chris Hedges on this episode of The Chris Hedges Report are three courageous individuals who chose to put their careers on the line to fight against Big Tech's role in Israel's genocide.
(If for any reason this unsolicited comment is inappropriate please feel free to delete it):
A few weeks ago this platform, Substack, officially allied itself with one of its more potent Zionist forums, The Free Press. That’s not something most of us wanted.
What this means is that of every dollar any subscriber pays to any Substack writer, some fraction of that will filter up to Free Press, and, by logical extension, eventually contribute to the murder of innocents.
There are very few issues I find beyond possibility of discussion. Even Zionism is theoretically arguable, but only once the killing stops. In the meantime I urge all writers, commenters, and simply decent human beings to join together to insist that this platform become once again a level one, and not tilted to the side of blatant crimes against humanity. I think a separate, independent, Substack site where all civilized contributors can express themselves and speak to the management of the platform is needed. I would like to know what others think of this.
Not sufficiently familiar w the Free Press, i.e., I sense the Zionist tilt, but don't know how strong it is; either way it sucks -- as long as, as you say, the murder continues; although to me any exceptionalist hogwash be it American or Zionist is fracturingly narcissistic and of therefore little use. Be that as it may, I'd say the separate platform idea is reasonable regardless.
Bravi to your interviewees. So many infuriating aspects to the machinations of tech oligarchs and their underhanded attempts to rape nations and the planet of minerals. But among the actions that most inflame my heart is the bloody Zionism, the obvious pro-Israel, anti-Palestinian-state disposition. Meaning: the heavy influence of the Zionist lobby, the big money of Zionist billionaires funneled through AIPAC et al. Makes me glad I never indulged in X or FB. There are days when the taste in my mouth from all this is so sour that I want to blow up all my "devices" and go looking for a typewriter.
The Zionist lobby has been at work in the USA since before the creation of the state of Israel along with a normal Jewish lobby. Even that sentence will be defined as anti-semitic or anti- Jewish or racist. Nevertheless "Israel" has had a hand in American politics since its creation. That hand has grown ever larger as this younger generation non Jewish semites are becoming painfully aware. This propaganda battle will continue to be fought with support from parts of the Christian right who pray for an end times scenario and a remnant of neo-conservatives who still believe that we can somehow control events in the middle east to our national benefit. The only positive outcome I can see from Bibi's Zionist policies, and this will be paid for in Palestinian blood, will be the removal of the crown of thorns Israel has been able to wear for the world since the holocaust
I hope you're right about the crown of thorns removal, but Israel always seems surrounded by an invisible impenetrable shield. After all, the remainder of the world has allowed them to commit a genocide in plain sight. That -- plus unlimited US arms --kind of sends them a message of invincibility, which they seem quite willing to feed off.
Yeah, there's transparency all right. It's transparently obvious which opinions are allowed and which aren't. A reminder that tech is not some entity independent of the humans who create it. Nor is it neutral. It functions with the traits programmed into it--as determined by WHOM?
One of my mentors was Dr. Ed Wenk, professor of engineering and leader in creating the Office of Technology Assessment for the U.S. Congress. At the U. of WA, he had a program that was interdisciplinary between sociology and engineering. Neither understands the other; Wenk insisted it's vital they learn. Decisions must be made as to which technology to develop, for what reasons, and who controls it. He was adamant this be explicitly in the public interest, the common good. But then he was a New Deal left over. That program no longer exists. And we see whose interests dominate.
The other story here is employee rights in the U.S. If you're not under a union contract (or contracts only for top management,) you're an "at will" employee. That means companies can fire you at any time with or without a reason. You have no right to a job. Oh sure, there's the EEOC; but even at its height decades ago, it only pursued 11% of the cases filed. Proving discrimination is very difficult, even when it's obvious.
Union contracts are covered within contract law, a well defined aspect of law since contracts are important to corporations. If you're a non-union employee, you come under something inherited from English common law. It's called a Master-Servant relationship! Consider what that implies for how corporate bosses, 1%ers, and their political shills classify us lessers.
Thank you very much for this enlightening expose of the amoral, anti-human, profit-driven people who are running these giant tech companies. I hope their, and your, efforts to raise awareness of the active involvement of these companies gains great momentum in the coming year!
Here is one organization that is working to bring accountability to those committing war crimes and genocide. The press, and the tech companies need to be included amongst those charged. The Hind Rajab Foundation has, among other things, filed a case with the ICC against 1,000 Israeli soldiers for war crimes in Gaza.
despite everything, it is really enlightening to listen to these 3 Palestinians working in the high tech industry.....let's not forget these are the future leaders who will bring about liberation for the Palestinian people!
The old tribal punishment of banishment returns; now we're de-platformed...Dante just went off and wrote the Inferno when he was banished from Florence (I think). Can we keep in touch w/o meta, Facebook, et al? Or do they own us?
Please reconsider your descriptor. It's a current Euro and Euro descendant intellectual fad to label whatever they don't like as "tribal." Historically, peoples of the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, and indigenous Australia were labelled "tribal" and "primitive." Whereas Euro groups are "ethnic" and "civilized." Take at good look at the 19th, 20th, and 21st C. so far and decide whose collective behavior, including among educated elites, is more likely to be judged as barbarous. Postmodern banishment is merely another form of the traditional Euro behavior of empires.
In reference to the cynical Nazi slogan Arbeit Macht Frei – Work Makes You Free that the SS had placed at the entrance of Auschwitz – we substitute that ‘work makes you free’ now for hi-tech entrances into Amazon or Apple or any other transnational corporation that the CEO’s placed at the entrance of today’s corporate fascist symbol.
It is sad but not surprising that these employees were fired. Big Tech experiments with their tech weaponry and makes a lot of blood money off their human slaughter in Gaza. I heard somewhere that the country of Israel and the American war machine (that includes Big Tech), and American oligarchs and AIPAC, all who helped launch Adolph Trumps presidency, each fly a new flag to symbolize their 21st century ambitions. The flag is bloody red with a big, black swastika in the center that hugs a big bloody and gold dollar sign.
Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes announced Friday she had resigned from The Washington Post after the newspaper refused to publish a satirical cartoon depicting billionaire Post owner Jeff Bezos on bended knee in front of President-elect Donald Trump. Telnaes, who had been with The Post since 2008, wrote in a Substack post announcing her resignation that, “I have had editorial feedback and productive conversations—and some differences—about cartoons I have submitted for publication, but in all that time I’ve never had a cartoon killed because of who or what I chose to aim my pen at. Until now.”The cartoon depicted Bezos, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and OpenAI chief Sam Altman on their knees, handing over bags of cash to a statue of Trump next to a lipstick-holding Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong and bowing Mickey Mouse.
As usual, an insightful discussion into one of today’s most important issues.
As usual, an insightful discussion about the nuanced details of the current issues.
As usual, multiple Talking Heads discussing the minutiae of one aspect of the problem.
As usual, completely ignoring any alternative to the underlying economic system, capitalism, which underpins EVERY problem-du-jour.
When are we going to stop discussing the problems that capitalism throws up on a piecemeal basis- war; genocide; hunger; homelessness; racism and a multiplicity of other ‘evils’ and finally address the 800 pound gorilla that is in the room: capitalism itself?
Thanks for this expose on erasure. Technology is the means to oppression. Some of the first white peoples hung in the Americans were trading muskets to the homeland security of 500+ years ago. Hollywood is all about how the Winchester won the West; but from the other side of cinema whiteout is whitewash, the technology of religion, residential schools, and reservations overseen by the newspaper and disposed by the railroad that civilized the native to the violence of the settler- Palestine is the 20th century manifestation of the reservation as death camp. Monsters are fed on extraction, see for example the wealth transfer to Cheney through Halliburton, while growing the religion of terrorism looking for phantoms WMDs to degrade Iraq via Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs).
(If for any reason this unsolicited comment is inappropriate please feel free to delete it):
A few weeks ago this platform, Substack, officially allied itself with one of its more potent Zionist forums, The Free Press. That’s not something most of us wanted.
What this means is that of every dollar any subscriber pays to any Substack writer, some fraction of that will filter up to Free Press, and, by logical extension, eventually contribute to the murder of innocents.
There are very few issues I find beyond possibility of discussion. Even Zionism is theoretically arguable, but only once the killing stops. In the meantime I urge all writers, commenters, and simply decent human beings to join together to insist that this platform become once again a level one, and not tilted to the side of blatant crimes against humanity. I think a separate, independent, Substack site where all civilized contributors can express themselves and speak to the management of the platform is needed. I would like to know what others think of this.
Thank you, and Happy (non- murderous) New Year.
Not sufficiently familiar w the Free Press, i.e., I sense the Zionist tilt, but don't know how strong it is; either way it sucks -- as long as, as you say, the murder continues; although to me any exceptionalist hogwash be it American or Zionist is fracturingly narcissistic and of therefore little use. Be that as it may, I'd say the separate platform idea is reasonable regardless.
Bravi to your interviewees. So many infuriating aspects to the machinations of tech oligarchs and their underhanded attempts to rape nations and the planet of minerals. But among the actions that most inflame my heart is the bloody Zionism, the obvious pro-Israel, anti-Palestinian-state disposition. Meaning: the heavy influence of the Zionist lobby, the big money of Zionist billionaires funneled through AIPAC et al. Makes me glad I never indulged in X or FB. There are days when the taste in my mouth from all this is so sour that I want to blow up all my "devices" and go looking for a typewriter.
The Zionist lobby has been at work in the USA since before the creation of the state of Israel along with a normal Jewish lobby. Even that sentence will be defined as anti-semitic or anti- Jewish or racist. Nevertheless "Israel" has had a hand in American politics since its creation. That hand has grown ever larger as this younger generation non Jewish semites are becoming painfully aware. This propaganda battle will continue to be fought with support from parts of the Christian right who pray for an end times scenario and a remnant of neo-conservatives who still believe that we can somehow control events in the middle east to our national benefit. The only positive outcome I can see from Bibi's Zionist policies, and this will be paid for in Palestinian blood, will be the removal of the crown of thorns Israel has been able to wear for the world since the holocaust
I hope you're right about the crown of thorns removal, but Israel always seems surrounded by an invisible impenetrable shield. After all, the remainder of the world has allowed them to commit a genocide in plain sight. That -- plus unlimited US arms --kind of sends them a message of invincibility, which they seem quite willing to feed off.
Yeah, there's transparency all right. It's transparently obvious which opinions are allowed and which aren't. A reminder that tech is not some entity independent of the humans who create it. Nor is it neutral. It functions with the traits programmed into it--as determined by WHOM?
One of my mentors was Dr. Ed Wenk, professor of engineering and leader in creating the Office of Technology Assessment for the U.S. Congress. At the U. of WA, he had a program that was interdisciplinary between sociology and engineering. Neither understands the other; Wenk insisted it's vital they learn. Decisions must be made as to which technology to develop, for what reasons, and who controls it. He was adamant this be explicitly in the public interest, the common good. But then he was a New Deal left over. That program no longer exists. And we see whose interests dominate.
The other story here is employee rights in the U.S. If you're not under a union contract (or contracts only for top management,) you're an "at will" employee. That means companies can fire you at any time with or without a reason. You have no right to a job. Oh sure, there's the EEOC; but even at its height decades ago, it only pursued 11% of the cases filed. Proving discrimination is very difficult, even when it's obvious.
Union contracts are covered within contract law, a well defined aspect of law since contracts are important to corporations. If you're a non-union employee, you come under something inherited from English common law. It's called a Master-Servant relationship! Consider what that implies for how corporate bosses, 1%ers, and their political shills classify us lessers.
Thank you very much for this enlightening expose of the amoral, anti-human, profit-driven people who are running these giant tech companies. I hope their, and your, efforts to raise awareness of the active involvement of these companies gains great momentum in the coming year!
Here is one organization that is working to bring accountability to those committing war crimes and genocide. The press, and the tech companies need to be included amongst those charged. The Hind Rajab Foundation has, among other things, filed a case with the ICC against 1,000 Israeli soldiers for war crimes in Gaza.
https://www.hindrajabfoundation.org/perpetrators/hind-rajab-foundation-files-historic-icc-complaint-against-1000-israeli-soldiers-for-war-crimes-in-gaza
They can use our help. Please read the article and join me in making a contribution. https://buy.stripe.com/cN228hbY5g7jaM84gg
despite everything, it is really enlightening to listen to these 3 Palestinians working in the high tech industry.....let's not forget these are the future leaders who will bring about liberation for the Palestinian people!
LONG LIVE PALESTINE
R-E-S-P-E-C-T x 3
The old tribal punishment of banishment returns; now we're de-platformed...Dante just went off and wrote the Inferno when he was banished from Florence (I think). Can we keep in touch w/o meta, Facebook, et al? Or do they own us?
Please reconsider your descriptor. It's a current Euro and Euro descendant intellectual fad to label whatever they don't like as "tribal." Historically, peoples of the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, and indigenous Australia were labelled "tribal" and "primitive." Whereas Euro groups are "ethnic" and "civilized." Take at good look at the 19th, 20th, and 21st C. so far and decide whose collective behavior, including among educated elites, is more likely to be judged as barbarous. Postmodern banishment is merely another form of the traditional Euro behavior of empires.
Yes, you can keep in touch via substack, maybe someone can provide you the link. ;-)
This interview captures brilliantly the complete integration of the Deep State into everyday life. Hats off to these courageous tech workers!
In reference to the cynical Nazi slogan Arbeit Macht Frei – Work Makes You Free that the SS had placed at the entrance of Auschwitz – we substitute that ‘work makes you free’ now for hi-tech entrances into Amazon or Apple or any other transnational corporation that the CEO’s placed at the entrance of today’s corporate fascist symbol.
It is sad but not surprising that these employees were fired. Big Tech experiments with their tech weaponry and makes a lot of blood money off their human slaughter in Gaza. I heard somewhere that the country of Israel and the American war machine (that includes Big Tech), and American oligarchs and AIPAC, all who helped launch Adolph Trumps presidency, each fly a new flag to symbolize their 21st century ambitions. The flag is bloody red with a big, black swastika in the center that hugs a big bloody and gold dollar sign.
Four wonderful, of the majority of wonderful human beings, on our planet. Many thanks to you. We need you.
Thank you, Chris, this exposure is so important! And so tragic.
The US tech companies are far more damaging then TikTok, yet they do nothing
Here's the latest example of billionaire power:
Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes announced Friday she had resigned from The Washington Post after the newspaper refused to publish a satirical cartoon depicting billionaire Post owner Jeff Bezos on bended knee in front of President-elect Donald Trump. Telnaes, who had been with The Post since 2008, wrote in a Substack post announcing her resignation that, “I have had editorial feedback and productive conversations—and some differences—about cartoons I have submitted for publication, but in all that time I’ve never had a cartoon killed because of who or what I chose to aim my pen at. Until now.”The cartoon depicted Bezos, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and OpenAI chief Sam Altman on their knees, handing over bags of cash to a statue of Trump next to a lipstick-holding Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong and bowing Mickey Mouse.
Here is Telnaes’ substack post: https://anntelnaes.substack.com/p/why-im-quitting-the-washington-post
As usual, an insightful discussion into one of today’s most important issues.
As usual, an insightful discussion about the nuanced details of the current issues.
As usual, multiple Talking Heads discussing the minutiae of one aspect of the problem.
As usual, completely ignoring any alternative to the underlying economic system, capitalism, which underpins EVERY problem-du-jour.
When are we going to stop discussing the problems that capitalism throws up on a piecemeal basis- war; genocide; hunger; homelessness; racism and a multiplicity of other ‘evils’ and finally address the 800 pound gorilla that is in the room: capitalism itself?
Thanks for this expose on erasure. Technology is the means to oppression. Some of the first white peoples hung in the Americans were trading muskets to the homeland security of 500+ years ago. Hollywood is all about how the Winchester won the West; but from the other side of cinema whiteout is whitewash, the technology of religion, residential schools, and reservations overseen by the newspaper and disposed by the railroad that civilized the native to the violence of the settler- Palestine is the 20th century manifestation of the reservation as death camp. Monsters are fed on extraction, see for example the wealth transfer to Cheney through Halliburton, while growing the religion of terrorism looking for phantoms WMDs to degrade Iraq via Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs).