Topics covered in this podcast include violent Russian resistance, global recession fears, worker strikes, Matt Gaetz investigation, NYT's Biden propaganda, insider journalism, Fed's mistake, Glenn Greenwald on Snowden obtaining Russian citizenship, and Trump's threat to declassify Russiagate documents.
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Quick takeaways
Matt Gaetz is unlikely to face legal consequences in the sex trafficking probe.
There is a surge of labor activity in the US with thousands of workers going on strike or threatening to do so.
Edward Snowden has been granted Russian citizenship after nine years of living in the country.
The US government, under the Obama and Biden administrations, continues to pursue prosecuting Snowden under the Espionage Act.
Deep dives
Career prosecutors recommend no charges for Matt Gaetz in sex trafficking probe
Career prosecutors at the Department of Justice have recommended to leadership no charges for Matt Gaetz in the sex trafficking probe. The investigation into Gaetz for sex trafficking was based on allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, but prosecutors have been unable to determine if any of that actually happened and have found two key witnesses to be unreliable. Additionally, a man who attempted to blackmail Gaetz with allegations of sex trafficking has been convicted and sentenced to five years in prison. While Gaetz's behavior may be considered odious, it is important to note that he will likely not face legal consequences based on the current findings.
Labor strikes and protests continue to surge in the US
Thousands of workers in the US are going on strike or threatening to do so in a surge of labor activity ahead of the midterm elections. In the first six months of 2022, there have been 180 strikes involving 78,000 workers, a significant increase from the same period in 2021. Strikes are escalating and spreading across various sectors, with airport workers in San Francisco and flight attendants planning protests at 21 airports. These labor actions highlight worker concerns about staffing levels, working conditions, and fair wages, and demonstrate a growing wave of unionization and grassroots mobilization in the country.
Federal prosecutors recommend no charges for Matt Gaetz in sex trafficking probe
Career prosecutors at the Department of Justice have recommended no charges for Congressman Matt Gaetz in the sex trafficking probe. The investigation was based on allegations that Gaetz had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and transported her across state lines for sex. However, prosecutors have been unable to determine if these allegations are true and have found two key witnesses to be unreliable. This development comes after a man who attempted to blackmail Gaetz with allegations of sex trafficking was sentenced to five years in prison for extortion. While Gaetz's behavior may be questionable, it appears that he will not face legal consequences based on current findings.
Labor strikes and protests surge in the US
Thousands of workers in the US are going on strike or threatening to do so, with labor activity on the rise leading up to the midterm elections. In the first half of 2022, there have been 180 strikes involving 78,000 workers. These numbers indicate a significant increase compared to the same period in 2021. Protest actions are spreading across different industries, with airport workers and flight attendants among those participating. These strikes and protests reflect worker concerns over staffing levels, working conditions, and fair wages. This escalating labor unrest points to a growing push for unionization and grassroots mobilization in the country.
Snowden granted Russian citizenship
Edward Snowden, the whistleblower, has been granted Russian citizenship after living in the country for nine years. This move provides stability for Snowden and his family, as the US government has previously threatened to arrest and prosecute him under the Espionage Act if he leaves Russia. The portrayal of Putin's role in granting citizenship as sinister or indicative of Snowden being a Russian spy is misleading. The Obama administration actively prevented Snowden from leaving Moscow and forced his prolonged stay in Russia. The Biden administration, continuing the policies of the Obama administration, shows no signs of changing their pursuit of prosecuting Snowden.
Washington Post's treatment of Snowden
The Washington Post, who worked alongside Snowden to report on the leaked documents, referred to him as an intelligence leaker and questioned whether he considers himself a whistleblower. This is despite the fact that they were willing to report on the documents and benefited from their revelations. The contradictory treatment by the Washington Post and other media outlets reflects the pro-establishment ideology of the corporate media, which tends to protect the interests of the US security state. This biased coverage misrepresents the courageous act of whistleblowing and distracts from the unconstitutional and illegal activities exposed in the Snowden documents.
Future of Snowden and the US government
The Biden administration, following the path of the Obama administration, shows no signs of changing its pursuit of prosecuting Snowden under the Espionage Act. Despite calls from various sources and even discussions of a possible pardon under the Trump administration, Snowden remains unable to return to the US due to the threat of imprisonment. The government's ongoing repression of whistleblowers, reflected in the treatment of Snowden and the continued pursuit of prosecution, inhibits transparency and accountability, demonstrating a disregard for the public's right to information.
