Daily Archives: February 27, 2020

2020-02-27: News Headlines

Dean Baker (2020-02-27). The NYT's Analysis of Democratic Tax Plans: a Really Big Number Orgy. counterpunch.org I have often gone after the media on printing large numbers that are meaningless to almost all their readers. The point is that when you throw out numbers in the millions, billions, and trillions, very few readers have any idea what these numbers mean. It is possible to make them meaningful by simply adding some

Staff (2020-02-26). Headlines for February 26, 2020. democracynow.org CDC Warns of "Severe" Disruption to Daily Life in U.S. as Coronavirus Spreads, DHS Secretary Grilled over Coronavirus Preparedness as Trump Downplays Risks, Two Billionaires Join Democratic Debate in SC as Rivals Target Bernie Sanders, At Least 24 Killed in India After Hindu Nationalists Attack Muslim Demonstrators, President Trump Wraps India Trip with Praise for $3.5 Billion Weapons Deal, 20 Civilians Killed in Syria's Idlib as the Red Cross Pleads for a Ceasefire, Airwars Reports U.S.-Led Strikes Killed Up to 139 Somali Civilians Since 2007, Supreme Court Rules Border Patrol Agents Who Shoot into Mexico Can't…

RT (2020-02-25). 'Bang-bang-bang': Bloomberg says he'd DRONE his critics & shield banks if elected president in leaked audio. rt.com Billionaire Democratic hopeful Michael Bloomberg vowed to "defend the banks" and jokingly suggested that he may hunt down his political rivals with Predator drones if elected, a leaked 2016 audio clip has revealed. | The Bloomberg campaign has confirmed the authenticity of the recording, which captured a speech he gave at a closed-door Goldman Sachs event at Yankee Stadium in June 2016. The clip was posted online by a self-styled disgruntled former Goldman executive several days ago and has since made the rounds. | Bloomberg's opening remarks can only help to fuel concerns within the progressive wing of his…

Dean Baker (2020-02-25). NYT's Look at Democratic Tax Plans Is an Orgy of Really Big Numbers. fair.org Election Focus 2020: The New York Times gives a a true orgy of really big numbers in the form of trillions of dollars of additional taxes and spending, providing readers with no context that would let them know how much impact these taxes are likely to have on the economy and/or their pocketbooks.

RT (2020-02-24). At least they'll have an off switch: Pentagon adopts 'AI Ethical Principles' for its killer robots. rt.com As the United States looks to develop artificial intelligence weapons to keep up with Russia and China, the Pentagon has adopted a set of guidelines that it says will keep its killer androids under human control. | The Department of Defense adopted a set of "Ethical Principles for Artificial Intelligence" on Monday, following the recommendations by the Defense Innovation Board last October. | "AI technology will change much about the battlefield of the future, but nothing will change America's steadfast commitment to responsible and lawful behavior," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement. | Also on…

Aaron Maté (2020-02-23). Russiagate 3.0 drowns out Trump's reckless escalation of US-Russia nuclear arms race. thegrayzone.com Amid new fear-mongering about "Russian interference," former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter on Trump's overlooked, reckless escalation of the US-Russia…

Lawrence Wittner (2019-12-22). Americans Are Ready for a Different Approach to Nuclear Weapons. zcomm.org Although today's public protests against nuclear weapons can't compare to the major antinuclear upheavals of past decades, there are clear indications that most Americans reject the Trump administration's nuclear weapons policies. Since entering office in 2017, the Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from the nuclear agreement with Iran, scrapped the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces

Jon Rainwater (2019-11-07). Take Action — Some actual, SANE legislation. peaceaction.org Trump has plans to spend nearly $2 TRILLION over the next 30 years on unneeded and unnecessary nuclear weapons and delivery systems. This makes no sense. This is insane. That's nearly $100 million wasted every day for thirty years on weapons we are supposed to be getting rid of. To put that amount in perspective, …

2020-02-27: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

The NYT's Analysis of Democratic Tax Plans: a Really Big Number Orgy
Dean Baker | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-27
I have often gone after the media on printing large numbers that are meaningless to almost all their readers. The point is that when you throw out numbers in the millions, billions, and trillions, very few readers have any idea what these numbers mean. It is possible to make them meaningful by simply adding some…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/27/the-nyts-analysis-of-democratic-tax-plans-a-really-big-number-orgy/

NYT's Look at Democratic Tax Plans Is an Orgy of Really Big Numbers
Dean Baker | fair.org | 2020-02-25
Election Focus 2020: The New York Times gives a a true orgy of really big numbers in the form of trillions of dollars of additional taxes and spending, providing readers with no context that would let them know how much impact these taxes are likely to have on the economy and/or their pocketbooks.
fair.org/home/nyts-look-at-democratic-tax-plans-is-an-orgy-of-really-big-numbers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nyts-look-at-democratic-tax-plans-is-an-orgy-of-really-big-numbers

'Bang-bang-bang': Bloomberg says he'd DRONE his critics & shield banks if elected president in leaked audio
rt.com | 2020-02-25
Billionaire Democratic hopeful Michael Bloomberg vowed to "defend the banks" and jokingly suggested that he may hunt down his political rivals with Predator drones if elected, a leaked 2016 audio clip has revealed. | The Bloomberg campaign has confirmed the authenticity of the recording, which captured a speech he gave at a closed-door Goldman Sachs event at Yankee Stadium in June 2016. The clip was posted online by a self-styled disgruntled former Goldman executive several days ago and has since made the rounds. | Bloomberg's opening remarks can only help to fuel concerns within the progressive wing of his…
rt.com/usa/481597-bloomberg-audio-drones-banks/

At least they'll have an off switch: Pentagon adopts 'AI Ethical Principles' for its killer robots
rt.com | 2020-02-24
As the United States looks to develop artificial intelligence weapons to keep up with Russia and China, the Pentagon has adopted a set of guidelines that it says will keep its killer androids under human control. | The Department of Defense adopted a set of "Ethical Principles for Artificial Intelligence" on Monday, following the recommendations by the Defense Innovation Board last October. | "AI technology will change much about the battlefield of the future, but nothing will change America's steadfast commitment to responsible and lawful behavior," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement. | Also on…
rt.com/usa/481586-pentagon-ai-robots-ethics/

Russiagate 3.0 drowns out Trump's reckless escalation of US-Russia nuclear arms race
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2020-02-23
Amid new fear-mongering about "Russian interference," former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter on Trump's overlooked, reckless escalation of the US-Russia…
thegrayzone.com/2020/02/23/russiagate-2-0-drowns-out-trumps-reckless-escalation-of-us-russia-nuclear-arms-race/