The failure by journalists to mount a campaign to free Julian Assange, or expose the vicious smear campaign against him, is one more catastrophic and self-defeating blunder by the news media.
The ones who abandoned Julian aren’t journalists, Chris. They are Mockingbird propagandists.
You, Matt, and the other individuals standing up for Julian and the persecuted freedoms he represents are a dying breed, but it is my hope that your courageous examples will spark a renaissance of genuine journalism.
Chris, I recently dedicated my poem “Ode to a Whistleblower” to Daniel Ellsberg and Julian Assange, and I drew heavily from your extensive coverage of Julian’s case for the accompanying article:
These are not journalists, but glorified fluffers to power, complete with fancy degrees, or Renaissance courtiers, but without the colorful outfits.
These so-called journalists sleep soundly at night, knowing that they never will utter or even think so much as a symbol that their masters would not approve of. Noam Chomsky's epic takedown of Andrew Marr was entirely on point.
The contrast is stark between myself at 15 sitting in a NYC subway car reading the Times on my way to school -- believing in a functional Fourth Estate -- and the sickening feeling I get now from reading Matt, Stella's ad Chris' words.
Vanguard is the number one investor in the New York Times and The Washington Post. It is also a top owner of the weapons industry, big pharma, etc. Vanguard interlocks with many other corporations by owning stock in the companies and having interlocking boards of directors. These companies have the bulk of the wealth in the Western world, so they finance the political campaigns of the politicians that they want to get elected. This mega-conglomerate owns most, if not all infrastructural industries.
The newspapers, broadcast media and other forms of major public outreach are all owned by the same interests. Reporters work for the same people who own the weapons industry and control the politicians that lead us into war. It is a well oiled machine.
Chris, please take the time to investigate this, and use your platform to inform people! Please research this network. It is easy. I have done so with my laptop computer. Work to have the Sherman Antitrust Act enforced.
I don't know what to say except to be really terrified. A lot of us know we don't get the proper news but it seems people don't care. I have noticed The Guardian becoming more mainstream in the last few years and to be honest can't be bothered to read it.
I tried to bring up Julian Assange on WAPO under requests but so far nothing has been said.
Many years ago there were those who warned against the corporatization of the media and now we see the end result.
Here in Canada the integrity of the media suffered an early death as we are a colonized country and content is shaved in service to the empire next door, as have our political parties been stripped of their identities. Now all our federal parties are a chorus of war mongers on the public dole.
America is lucky enough to have independent outlets speaking truth to power, also there is an international network of journalists getting the job done. They need our support in every way as they are the emerging alternative.
Not only have journalists abandoned Assange we the public have stood idly by and watched the collapse of a key democratic institution-free of the press. Assange won't be the last victim.
The resurrected fascism of the Western elites appears to have an unstoppable momentum?
Like all things neoliberal the Western media has been "privatized" is service to the despotic elites. The public must reclaim it.
stop it just stop it. 95% of media is owned by 6 corporations. those corporations are the propaganda ministry of the fascist empire. they have been for a very long time. you cannot say journalists "slit their own throats" that is a ridiculous statement anyway you look at it. the journalists who are covering julians case like you, matt taibbi, glen greenwald etc. are the investigative journalists. those working for the lame stream media are merely scribes writing what either they are told or writing what they know will ensure a paycheck. this is 5th generation warfare. it is all about the narrative. he who controls the narrative controls the mind. he who controls the mind is the most powerful.
so please stop saying they are "slitting their own throats" they are doing exactly what they are paid to do. as long as they do they will pay for the mortgage, kids school, kids braces, dance lessons, a college fund, retirement etc. all the while winning "journalism awards"
I wrote a song for Julian and sent it to my Australian musician mates to play publicly at gigs..no response..even George Galloway in Moats only let me get half wat through it and then being hung up on..I went to my local government representative Tony Bourke leader or the House of Representatives for the current labour government in power in Australia at the moment. I grilled him on Julian Assange just like I told him i was going to...despite this during our discussion he still could not bring to mind "Chelsea Manning's" name ..this really showed me the government laisse attitufe to Julian's case. He used phrases such as "cant be saying anything that will harm Julian's case or look like we are telling the Americans what to do " when asked was he optimistic of Julian's release he said he was "hopeful"
It seems to me that other countries are more vocal and active than Australia which is a country that prides itself on "Mateship" and standing up for your mates makes me want to cry.
If Julian is hoping our government is working for him after we just bought 6 Nuclear armed submarines at the cost of 368 billion dollars from USA & UK governments and giving Ukraine an additional 110 million then I wish him the luck of the Irish.
Tony Bourke when asked by me to at least ease the horrible conditions in which Julian is being detained he told me Stephen Smith ( a weaselly looking lawyer from the labour government of the 80s acting as High Commissioner in UK was acting on it ..I later found out he is also an Albanese appointee to a mates job with the USA on military strategic policy ..so join the dots there.
I sincerely hope and pray for Julians imminent release.
Tell Hedges to get the hell off his sanctimonious soapbox ...
In this article he elaborates on how journalists failed us for not supporting Assange ... there was a time when he as in a position to call out other journalists for standing down on vitally important issues like the plight of Assange, but not anymore ... he's made a number of statements since the MAR '20 lock-downs which strongly suggest that if not bought-off, he has at least allowed himself to be intimidated into a state of selective silence ...
I've found his positions on the following issues to be real head-scratchers:
DIVISIVENESS - He's always been quick to point out the divisiveness among us, but in his recent May 20 piece on the TRUMP-RUSSIA CONSPIRACY THEORY, he chose to reach deep into his bag of wedge issues to deviously resurrect Trump and MAGA ... Hedges is actually a retired activist since the lockdowns ... he is now repelled by hard news and desperately clings to politically safe issues just to maintain his place in the independent media food chain ... and he will resort to divisive rhetoric whenever it suits him ...
In his otherwise terrific 2021 AMERICAN SADISM speech, he brazenly revealed his disdain for those of us who now openly question the motives and tactics of our elected officials ... at the 44:57 mark, he made the following extremely divisive comment ... he said the loss of the elite's credibility "has given rise to spontaneous groups, as well as the LUNATIC FRINGE that embraces conspiracy theories such as Q-ANON" ...
I happen to believe that 9/11 was an inside job, so does that make me a member of his lunatic fringe? ... well guess what, Chris Hedges is actually on record as saying as much ... after a 2014 speech, he was asked to comment on 9/11 and insulted our collective intelligence by saying "I don't want to get into conspiracy theories ... Bush was probably just asleep at the wheel" ...
ACCOUNTABILITY - I'd like Chris Hedges to explain ...
1) Why he refused to stand with the working class against the illegal and unconstitutional mandates and passports ... on this topic he has only said: "it's a tough decision" ...
2) Why he brazenly took sides with big pharma to deftly push the "safe & effective" narrative on us just one month after the explosive FDA FOIA release:
On DEC 2, 2021 ...
The FDA was compelled by a court ruling to release Phizer's internal vax data that revealed 1,223 post-jab deaths and 34,762 adverse events in the first 10 weeks of its trial ... The FDA attempted to delay the full release of this data for 75 years!
And then, just 30 days later ...
On JAN 1, 2022 ...
Chris Hedges made the following comment right here on SubStack on the Krystal Kyle & Friends Podcast (Episode #54) - go to the 1:08:48 mark ...
"I don't think we're going to stop the pandemic and mutations until everybody gets vaccinated" ...
He could have said it's a personal decision, but he chose to play it safe and stand with big pharma ...
3) Why he suggested "everybody gets vaccinated" when about 2m after making that comment he actually said he "does not trust Moderna or Phizer" ... clearly, this man did not give a hoot about the consequences ... retired journalists who live with one foot in "their" world and only one foot in our world tend to say things like this ...
I have more, but I'll spare you ...
CENSORSHIP - I am here as a creation of the YouTube algorithm ... YT has been blocking and ghosting my carefully researched criticisms of Chris Hedges for the past two years ... and you might ask yourself why ... why would YT shield an avowed anti-corporate independent media figure from criticism? ... you can draw your own conclusions - I know I've drawn mine ...
Think for a moment of the years that have been stolen from Julian Assange by various governments. And then look at the US government's reluctance to use the same tactics against Donald Trump. The contrast is striking and sickening. Assange deserves support and respect for exposing the crimes of Empire.
Soon! Very soon our democracy will be lost to totalitarianism. Mainstream media is simply government biased reporting. Like Trump. You lie long enough and begin to believe it as the truth
The ones who abandoned Julian aren’t journalists, Chris. They are Mockingbird propagandists.
You, Matt, and the other individuals standing up for Julian and the persecuted freedoms he represents are a dying breed, but it is my hope that your courageous examples will spark a renaissance of genuine journalism.
Chris, I recently dedicated my poem “Ode to a Whistleblower” to Daniel Ellsberg and Julian Assange, and I drew heavily from your extensive coverage of Julian’s case for the accompanying article:
• “Ode to a Whistleblower” (https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/ode-to-a-whistleblower)
These are not journalists, but glorified fluffers to power, complete with fancy degrees, or Renaissance courtiers, but without the colorful outfits.
These so-called journalists sleep soundly at night, knowing that they never will utter or even think so much as a symbol that their masters would not approve of. Noam Chomsky's epic takedown of Andrew Marr was entirely on point.
The contrast is stark between myself at 15 sitting in a NYC subway car reading the Times on my way to school -- believing in a functional Fourth Estate -- and the sickening feeling I get now from reading Matt, Stella's ad Chris' words.
Mr. Chris Hedges,
Vanguard is the number one investor in the New York Times and The Washington Post. It is also a top owner of the weapons industry, big pharma, etc. Vanguard interlocks with many other corporations by owning stock in the companies and having interlocking boards of directors. These companies have the bulk of the wealth in the Western world, so they finance the political campaigns of the politicians that they want to get elected. This mega-conglomerate owns most, if not all infrastructural industries.
The newspapers, broadcast media and other forms of major public outreach are all owned by the same interests. Reporters work for the same people who own the weapons industry and control the politicians that lead us into war. It is a well oiled machine.
Chris, please take the time to investigate this, and use your platform to inform people! Please research this network. It is easy. I have done so with my laptop computer. Work to have the Sherman Antitrust Act enforced.
I don't know what to say except to be really terrified. A lot of us know we don't get the proper news but it seems people don't care. I have noticed The Guardian becoming more mainstream in the last few years and to be honest can't be bothered to read it.
I tried to bring up Julian Assange on WAPO under requests but so far nothing has been said.
Keep talking to us.
Thank you.
What they’re doing to Julian breaks my heart wide open
I have cried many many tears for this HERO
He’s amazing and brave - and this situation alone makes it clear we are in the grips of world totalitarianism
How on EARTH can we win?
I used to have hope, but it’s fading
I cry a lot now
This honest reporting brought more despair and tears
I want to see a way out SO MUCH
But ...
Truly
How?
WHEN??
WHAT can be DONE?????
😰
Many years ago there were those who warned against the corporatization of the media and now we see the end result.
Here in Canada the integrity of the media suffered an early death as we are a colonized country and content is shaved in service to the empire next door, as have our political parties been stripped of their identities. Now all our federal parties are a chorus of war mongers on the public dole.
America is lucky enough to have independent outlets speaking truth to power, also there is an international network of journalists getting the job done. They need our support in every way as they are the emerging alternative.
Not only have journalists abandoned Assange we the public have stood idly by and watched the collapse of a key democratic institution-free of the press. Assange won't be the last victim.
The resurrected fascism of the Western elites appears to have an unstoppable momentum?
Like all things neoliberal the Western media has been "privatized" is service to the despotic elites. The public must reclaim it.
The only purpose of censorship is to hide the truth.
stop it just stop it. 95% of media is owned by 6 corporations. those corporations are the propaganda ministry of the fascist empire. they have been for a very long time. you cannot say journalists "slit their own throats" that is a ridiculous statement anyway you look at it. the journalists who are covering julians case like you, matt taibbi, glen greenwald etc. are the investigative journalists. those working for the lame stream media are merely scribes writing what either they are told or writing what they know will ensure a paycheck. this is 5th generation warfare. it is all about the narrative. he who controls the narrative controls the mind. he who controls the mind is the most powerful.
so please stop saying they are "slitting their own throats" they are doing exactly what they are paid to do. as long as they do they will pay for the mortgage, kids school, kids braces, dance lessons, a college fund, retirement etc. all the while winning "journalism awards"
I wrote a song for Julian and sent it to my Australian musician mates to play publicly at gigs..no response..even George Galloway in Moats only let me get half wat through it and then being hung up on..I went to my local government representative Tony Bourke leader or the House of Representatives for the current labour government in power in Australia at the moment. I grilled him on Julian Assange just like I told him i was going to...despite this during our discussion he still could not bring to mind "Chelsea Manning's" name ..this really showed me the government laisse attitufe to Julian's case. He used phrases such as "cant be saying anything that will harm Julian's case or look like we are telling the Americans what to do " when asked was he optimistic of Julian's release he said he was "hopeful"
It seems to me that other countries are more vocal and active than Australia which is a country that prides itself on "Mateship" and standing up for your mates makes me want to cry.
If Julian is hoping our government is working for him after we just bought 6 Nuclear armed submarines at the cost of 368 billion dollars from USA & UK governments and giving Ukraine an additional 110 million then I wish him the luck of the Irish.
Tony Bourke when asked by me to at least ease the horrible conditions in which Julian is being detained he told me Stephen Smith ( a weaselly looking lawyer from the labour government of the 80s acting as High Commissioner in UK was acting on it ..I later found out he is also an Albanese appointee to a mates job with the USA on military strategic policy ..so join the dots there.
I sincerely hope and pray for Julians imminent release.
Thank you !! An incredible effort and synthesis.
Tell Hedges to get the hell off his sanctimonious soapbox ...
In this article he elaborates on how journalists failed us for not supporting Assange ... there was a time when he as in a position to call out other journalists for standing down on vitally important issues like the plight of Assange, but not anymore ... he's made a number of statements since the MAR '20 lock-downs which strongly suggest that if not bought-off, he has at least allowed himself to be intimidated into a state of selective silence ...
I've found his positions on the following issues to be real head-scratchers:
DIVISIVENESS - He's always been quick to point out the divisiveness among us, but in his recent May 20 piece on the TRUMP-RUSSIA CONSPIRACY THEORY, he chose to reach deep into his bag of wedge issues to deviously resurrect Trump and MAGA ... Hedges is actually a retired activist since the lockdowns ... he is now repelled by hard news and desperately clings to politically safe issues just to maintain his place in the independent media food chain ... and he will resort to divisive rhetoric whenever it suits him ...
In his otherwise terrific 2021 AMERICAN SADISM speech, he brazenly revealed his disdain for those of us who now openly question the motives and tactics of our elected officials ... at the 44:57 mark, he made the following extremely divisive comment ... he said the loss of the elite's credibility "has given rise to spontaneous groups, as well as the LUNATIC FRINGE that embraces conspiracy theories such as Q-ANON" ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGCFVc-5yTM
I happen to believe that 9/11 was an inside job, so does that make me a member of his lunatic fringe? ... well guess what, Chris Hedges is actually on record as saying as much ... after a 2014 speech, he was asked to comment on 9/11 and insulted our collective intelligence by saying "I don't want to get into conspiracy theories ... Bush was probably just asleep at the wheel" ...
ACCOUNTABILITY - I'd like Chris Hedges to explain ...
1) Why he refused to stand with the working class against the illegal and unconstitutional mandates and passports ... on this topic he has only said: "it's a tough decision" ...
2) Why he brazenly took sides with big pharma to deftly push the "safe & effective" narrative on us just one month after the explosive FDA FOIA release:
On DEC 2, 2021 ...
The FDA was compelled by a court ruling to release Phizer's internal vax data that revealed 1,223 post-jab deaths and 34,762 adverse events in the first 10 weeks of its trial ... The FDA attempted to delay the full release of this data for 75 years!
And then, just 30 days later ...
On JAN 1, 2022 ...
Chris Hedges made the following comment right here on SubStack on the Krystal Kyle & Friends Podcast (Episode #54) - go to the 1:08:48 mark ...
https://krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/p/episode-54-audio-chris-hedges#detail
"I don't think we're going to stop the pandemic and mutations until everybody gets vaccinated" ...
He could have said it's a personal decision, but he chose to play it safe and stand with big pharma ...
3) Why he suggested "everybody gets vaccinated" when about 2m after making that comment he actually said he "does not trust Moderna or Phizer" ... clearly, this man did not give a hoot about the consequences ... retired journalists who live with one foot in "their" world and only one foot in our world tend to say things like this ...
I have more, but I'll spare you ...
CENSORSHIP - I am here as a creation of the YouTube algorithm ... YT has been blocking and ghosting my carefully researched criticisms of Chris Hedges for the past two years ... and you might ask yourself why ... why would YT shield an avowed anti-corporate independent media figure from criticism? ... you can draw your own conclusions - I know I've drawn mine ...
We’re all journalists/the press now… besides, millionaire newsman just don’t have the hustle to find stories!
Think for a moment of the years that have been stolen from Julian Assange by various governments. And then look at the US government's reluctance to use the same tactics against Donald Trump. The contrast is striking and sickening. Assange deserves support and respect for exposing the crimes of Empire.
Soon! Very soon our democracy will be lost to totalitarianism. Mainstream media is simply government biased reporting. Like Trump. You lie long enough and begin to believe it as the truth
Truth. Tough to control people efficiently when they are allowed to hear and speak the truth.