{
  "trx_id": "786a58c7e021ae5a1d04c187ed1756a87f2ca719",
  "block": 81263657,
  "trx_in_block": 0,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2024-01-02T05:15:06",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "mitchellmcguire"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"mitchellmcguire\",\"following\":\"rebelskum\",\"what\":[\"\",\"\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "14e2fd71bee061d4bc721ee2d6a57bdcb66c9800",
  "block": 81263656,
  "trx_in_block": 7,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2024-01-02T05:15:03",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "mitchellmcguire"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"mitchellmcguire\",\"following\":\"rebelskum\",\"what\":[\"blog\",\"\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "678fc63ca16104a94b614c3cbf374abd9e61c540",
  "block": 81262806,
  "trx_in_block": 3,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2024-01-02T04:32:18",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "mitchellmcguire",
      "author": "rebelskum",
      "permlink": "the-cost-of-courage-part-v-monica-petersen-and-the-horrors-in-haiti",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "477c1620a039fccf1ad758bdf1089ab425addfed",
  "block": 81139871,
  "trx_in_block": 0,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2023-12-28T21:41:42",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "mitchellmcguire",
      "author": "azra",
      "permlink": "it-s-not-a-bloody-photo-of-james-alefantis",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "4b69f36439db8f34864f85a0393cf8d3d4f86b0c",
  "block": 81139866,
  "trx_in_block": 3,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2023-12-28T21:41:27",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "mitchellmcguire",
      "author": "azra",
      "permlink": "it-s-not-a-bloody-photo-of-james-alefantis",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "59c2f3e846777bd3fe08a393325ffcb798a7d9a9",
  "block": 81139366,
  "trx_in_block": 10,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2023-12-28T21:16:18",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "mitchellmcguire",
      "author": "heroic15397",
      "permlink": "beware-pizzagate-researchers-besta-s-andrew-kline-is-not-obama-s-andrew-kline",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
  "block": 69676927,
  "trx_in_block": 4294967295,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 2,
  "timestamp": "2022-11-23T03:37:42",
  "op": [
    "fill_vesting_withdraw",
    {
      "from_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "to_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "withdrawn": "1083.536288 VESTS",
      "deposited": "0.605 STEEM"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
  "block": 69476307,
  "trx_in_block": 4294967295,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 2,
  "timestamp": "2022-11-16T03:37:42",
  "op": [
    "fill_vesting_withdraw",
    {
      "from_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "to_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "withdrawn": "1083.536291 VESTS",
      "deposited": "0.604 STEEM"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
  "block": 69275589,
  "trx_in_block": 4294967295,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 2,
  "timestamp": "2022-11-09T03:37:42",
  "op": [
    "fill_vesting_withdraw",
    {
      "from_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "to_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "withdrawn": "1083.536291 VESTS",
      "deposited": "0.604 STEEM"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
  "block": 69074936,
  "trx_in_block": 4294967295,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 40,
  "timestamp": "2022-11-02T03:37:42",
  "op": [
    "fill_vesting_withdraw",
    {
      "from_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "to_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "withdrawn": "1083.536291 VESTS",
      "deposited": "0.604 STEEM"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "1234345463fdcf6a1d46c242acb5918e26b6d838",
  "block": 68874386,
  "trx_in_block": 1,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2022-10-26T03:37:42",
  "op": [
    "withdraw_vesting",
    {
      "account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "vesting_shares": "4334.145161 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "16196bca27405a68ab1cf3ec393b962229d56b76",
  "block": 68874375,
  "trx_in_block": 4,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2022-10-26T03:37:09",
  "op": [
    "withdraw_vesting",
    {
      "account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "vesting_shares": "13735.738349 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "a29bd605a42b84fd6e70129d39c61b38a4a65f3b",
  "block": 68874370,
  "trx_in_block": 2,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2022-10-26T03:36:54",
  "op": [
    "transfer",
    {
      "from": "mitchellmcguire",
      "to": "steemmonsters",
      "amount": "42.750 STEEM",
      "memo": "P-94RDVUBGC0"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "50b02f05df3f419377bba10510b7249cac102786",
  "block": 68059894,
  "trx_in_block": 3,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2022-09-27T17:39:12",
  "op": [
    "transfer",
    {
      "from": "mitchellmcguire",
      "to": "steemmonsters",
      "amount": "45.820 STEEM",
      "memo": "P-3ISDNF7MPC"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
  "block": 66686219,
  "trx_in_block": 4294967295,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 2,
  "timestamp": "2022-08-10T16:25:54",
  "op": [
    "fill_vesting_withdraw",
    {
      "from_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "to_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "withdrawn": "52481.207159 VESTS",
      "deposited": "29.066 STEEM"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
  "block": 66486018,
  "trx_in_block": 4294967295,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 2,
  "timestamp": "2022-08-03T16:25:54",
  "op": [
    "fill_vesting_withdraw",
    {
      "from_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "to_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "withdrawn": "52481.207161 VESTS",
      "deposited": "29.048 STEEM"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
  "block": 66285547,
  "trx_in_block": 4294967295,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 2,
  "timestamp": "2022-07-27T16:25:54",
  "op": [
    "fill_vesting_withdraw",
    {
      "from_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "to_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "withdrawn": "52481.207161 VESTS",
      "deposited": "29.031 STEEM"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
  "block": 66084984,
  "trx_in_block": 4294967295,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 3,
  "timestamp": "2022-07-20T16:25:54",
  "op": [
    "fill_vesting_withdraw",
    {
      "from_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "to_account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "withdrawn": "52481.207161 VESTS",
      "deposited": "29.014 STEEM"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "bef52134286c198f78240412e4e0bb3de354cc69",
  "block": 65884441,
  "trx_in_block": 6,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2022-07-13T16:27:21",
  "op": [
    "claim_reward_balance",
    {
      "account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "reward_steem": "0.000 STEEM",
      "reward_sbd": "0.011 SBD",
      "reward_vests": "108.879798 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "38798e3be43905a76e4c5173f16df56c889e3faa",
  "block": 65884412,
  "trx_in_block": 2,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2022-07-13T16:25:54",
  "op": [
    "withdraw_vesting",
    {
      "account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "vesting_shares": "209924.828642 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "71be37201f9f6b3b44c269ecc2d49e2ffe92f1a1",
  "block": 62562675,
  "trx_in_block": 3,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2022-03-19T17:11:21",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "mitchellmcguire",
      "author": "libertasbella",
      "permlink": "don-t-believe-the-government",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "a7a8382a3ed3b3365c64cf9797880a480d17d8c1",
  "block": 62562669,
  "trx_in_block": 1,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2022-03-19T17:11:03",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "mitchellmcguire"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"mitchellmcguire\",\"following\":\"libertasbella\",\"what\":[\"blog\",\"\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "e85bf42e184544c81063bdcaea18472a772db7fb",
  "block": 62562662,
  "trx_in_block": 4,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2022-03-19T17:10:42",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "russia",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "us-hegemony-threatened-as-saudis-uae-india-ignore-threats-of-sanctions-turn-to-russia-and-china",
      "title": "US Hegemony Threatened As Saudis, UAE, India Ignore Threats of Sanctions, Turn to Russia and China",
      "body": "#### **Preface**\n\n**This article is a follow up to my** [**previous publication**](https://bitboycrypto.com/ukraine-crisis-triggered-a-massive-shift-in-fundamentals-for-bitcoin/) **,** [**&quot;Ukraine Crisis Triggered a Massive Shift in Fundamentals for Bitcoin&quot;**](https://medium.com/coinmonks/ukraine-crisis-triggered-a-massive-shift-in-fundamentals-for-bitcoin-336af1b5e2b4). The **synopsis being that Bitcoin&#39;s fundamentals were positively shifted as a result of sanctions and a splintering of the world financial system, the potential postponement or mitigation of expected upcoming contractionary policy by the Fed, along with rising energy prices** (main cost of expense in mining) **and bitcoin being partially viewed by many as a digital commodity** (commodities are booming as a result of the geopolitical and economic turmoil). Furthermore, **the article discussed the significance of a world power&#39;s reserve currency status relative to its total power and influence, the declining reserve status of the US dollar, and the possibilities of what a new potential world economic order can look like.**\n\n### **Saudi Arabia and UAE Signal Possible Breakaway From US, Growing Relationship with China/Russia Alliance**\n\n#### **Saudis and UAE Decline Calls With Biden, Pick up For Putin**\n\nA week ago, a story broke with headlines reading &quot;[Saudi, Emirati Leaders Decline Calls With Biden During Ukraine Crisis](https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-emirati-leaders-decline-calls-with-biden-during-ukraine-crisis-11646779430)&quot; and &quot;[Saudi, UAE leaders ignore Biden when he calls to talk gas prices: report&quot;](https://nypost.com/2022/03/08/saudi-uae-leaders-ignore-biden-when-he-calls-to-talk-gas-prices-report/). In the latter, the NY post states that, _&quot;__ **The leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates would not come to the phone when President Biden tried to call them** _ _to discuss boosting oil exports to offset price hikes linked to Russia&#39;s invasion of Ukraine, according to a _[_report_](https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-emirati-leaders-decline-calls-with-biden-during-ukraine-crisis-11646779430)_.&quot;_ The leaders of both countries did how ever pick up for Putin.\n\nWSJ, who broke the exclusive that everyone else ran off of, subtitled their article, _ **&quot;Persian Gulf monarchies have signaled they won&#39;t help ease surging oil prices unless Washington supports them in Yemen, elsewhere&quot;.** _ It is worth mentioning that **the UAE are close allies with the Saudis, and have been for some time** , well before the Yemen conflict. The [New York Post additionally reported](https://nypost.com/2022/03/08/saudi-uae-leaders-ignore-biden-when-he-calls-to-talk-gas-prices-report/) Biden&#39;s rebound attempts to Iran and Venezuela, both of whom the US has been sanctioning for years.\n\n&quot; **Biden is attempting to woo an array of oil-producing autocracies — including Iran, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela ** — to offset the impact of Russia&#39;s invasion of Ukraine on energy markets. …\n\n**US diplomats, meanwhile, are working to broker a new nuclear deal with Iran in exchange for sanctions relief and other diplomats were dispatched to Caracas to smooth over a rift with Venezuela&#39;s** socialist strongman **Nicolas Maduro, who the US government does not recognize as the country&#39;s legitimate ruler.** …\n\nThe white house did not respond for comment.&quot;\n\nDays later, Caitlin Mcfall reported for Yahoo News in an article titled, **&quot;** [_ **Blinken Downplays Reports of Saudi, UAE Distrust of Biden Admin** _](https://news.yahoo.com/blinken-downplays-reports-saudi-uae-214904775.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJDV8u576mc1zsetzj_pJ7Akmr1c2-jnCHCykWaHcbvV5Pe6Q8p23B-wm7PEwcHxmU7uEaEr6ejlXoojR9nPBVa7QUv4j-fvIKeZGXJc5XpPTRyFi5SKCuo5hRzzpVP3b8rsqKlp_bkSZCeD4EO0SxYz79q3EmFaJI1OgFBJjvy4)_ **&quot;:** _\n\n&quot;_Secretary of State_ [_Antony Blinken_](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/us-uk-vow-defeat-russia-putin) _on Wednesday downplayed the suggestion that the Biden administration was snubbed by oil-leading nations in the Middle East as the U.S. looks to counter surging oil prices amid_ [_Russia&#39;s war in Ukraine_](https://www.foxnews.com/category/world/world-regions/russia)_._\n\n_The report also said_ _ **Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the UAE&#39;s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite declining to talk with Biden.** _\n\n&quot; **There was some expectation of a phone call, but it didn&#39;t happen,**&quot; _a U.S. official reportedly said of the planned discussion between the Saudi Prince Mohammed and Biden._ &quot;**It was part of turning on the spigot  [of Saudi oil].**&quot;\n\nMcfall pointed out later in the article that in a joint press conference Wednesday with **Blinken, U.K. Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss urged other countries to &quot;get on board with our sanction effort.&quot;** _ **This attitude of urging other countries to support and partake in broad measures against Russia&#39;s entire population is counter productive to the US&#39;s national and economic security.** _\n\nTo surmise the US is pressuring other governments to comply with sanctions against their own diplomatic interests. This is having a negative effect. Countries caught in the middle are becoming enamored with Putin and China who is taking a less aggressive stance with neutral nations. We are witnessing this with Saudi Arabia, UAE, and India — the focus of this article. In **&quot;**  [_ **Ukraine Crisis Triggered a Massive Shift in Fundamentals for Bitcoin** _](https://medium.com/coinmonks/ukraine-crisis-triggered-a-massive-shift-in-fundamentals-for-bitcoin-336af1b5e2b4) [**&quot;**](https://medium.com/coinmonks/ukraine-crisis-triggered-a-massive-shift-in-fundamentals-for-bitcoin-336af1b5e2b4), I wrote about how **&quot;A senior US diplomat was** [**quoted**](https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/india-ukraine-sanction-biden-unga-b2027646.html) **on record saying that the Biden administration hopes** _ **&#39;India will find it&#39;s now time to further distance itself&#39;** _ **from Russia.&quot;**  [**The US went as far as to threaten sanctions on India, if they did not sanction Russia.**](https://thehill.com/policy/international/596693-biden-weighing-sanctions-on-india-over-russian-military-stockpiles)_ **What was the outcome of such attempted coercion?** _ **Blowback that negatively impacted the financial security of the US, and the strength of the dollar. India** [**just bought 3 million barrels of oil**](https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/598762-india-buys-3-million-barrels-of-russian-oil-report) **from Russia . They are even considering abandoning the dollar for trade with Russia, which thus far has been the standard.**\n\nYesterday Wapo published the headline, [&quot;As sanctions over Ukraine war mount, Russia turns to India to buy oil and arms&quot;](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/17/india-russia-oil/). The headline is slightly misleading, as **Russia turned to India to \\*sell\\* oil (** [**at a 20% discount from global prices**](https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/3/18/russian-oil-sale-to-india-complicates-bidens-efforts)). Keep in mind, India imports 85% of its oil, and the country&#39;s overall demand is expected to jump over 8% this year. Economically, buying discounted oil from Russia is undisputedly in India&#39;s best interest.:\n\n&quot;..The volume could increase in the coming months and reinforce a growing perception that **India is determined to preserve its extensive trade and military ties with Moscow** , **even as the United States and its allies urge governments around the world to isolate Russia.**\n\nAside from the oil deal, **the Indian government is also exploring ways to maintain trade with Russia by reviving a Cold War-era arrangement called the rupee-ruble trade** , according to two other Indian officials with knowledge of the matter. **The mechanism, which would be akin to a ledger of trade between the two countries, would let Indian and Russian firms do business while bypassing the need to use U.S. dollars ** —_ __ **the predominant currency of international trade** _ ** — and lowering the risk of potential U.S. sanctions**.\n\nThe last sentence there is particularly important, as bypassing the US dollar for international trade is a concrete demonstration of the threat the dollar faces in being phased out as a reserve currency. It also supports my last publication&#39;s thesis that our unilateral sanctions are expediting the fall of the dollar as a reserve currency, and critically damaging to not just the countries sanctioned by the US, but critically damaging America itself.\n\nAl Jazeera further reported on India&#39;s recent oil purchase from Russia in a piece titled, &quot; [Russian Oil Sale to India Complicates Biden&#39;s Efforts&quot;](https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/3/18/russian-oil-sale-to-india-complicates-bidens-efforts):\n\n**Although India is not alone in**  [**buying Russian energy**](https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/3/10/russia-we-have-enough-oil-and-gas-buyers-even-with-sanctions) ** — several European allies such as Germany have continued to do so ** — the decision conflicts with Biden&#39;s efforts to [isolate Russia&#39;s economy](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/9/us-bans-russian-oil-what-does-this-mean-for-oil-prices) with sanctions.\n\n**The increased flow of oil could further strain the relationship between Washington and New Delhi, which has already been tested** by India&#39;s recent procurement of advanced Russian air defence systems [Lockheed and Boeing are PISSED].\n\nIt is worth noting, this 3 million barrel deal is just the beginning. Al Jazeera noted that the Indian government official who broke the story to AP, said that &quot; **the country will increase its imports of Russian oil, allowing it to boost energy supplies at a discount as its economy struggles to recover from the coronavirus pandemic**  [that very possibly was a result of a US-funded biolab leak] **.&quot;**\n\nWhen reporters reached out to Indian diplomats for comment, a spokesman for India&#39;s External Affairs Ministry, Arindam Bagchi, pointed out that many European countries import Russian oil and gas.\n\n&quot;India imports most of its oil requirements. **We are exploring all possibilities in the global energy market**. I don&#39;t think Russia has been a major oil supplier to India,&quot; Bagchi said.\n\nThis development of state relations revolving around India is a microcosm illustrative of the macrocosm of the US pressuring allies and neutral countries alike to do what is not in their respective interest, pushing these countries into the arms of Russia and China. India isn&#39;t the only country seeking to phase out the dollar in its international trade, [Saudi Arabia is seeking to start accepting the Yuan](https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-considers-accepting-yuan-instead-of-dollars-for-chinese-oil-sales-11647351541)for their oil in place of the dollar. Being that Saudi Arabia set the foundation for the petrodollar, this is particularly significant, with the forex market&#39;s evaluation of the Yuan responding positively in the past 4 days since this news broke.\n\nFast forward from the Saudis and UAE giving Biden the cold shoulder, and just a few days ago it was widely reported that UK Prime Minister Johnson was tapped in the ring to get the Saudis and UAE to boost production. In an article titled [&quot;](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/14/johnson-criticised-saudis-gulf-oil-production) [_Johnson faces uphill task to convince Saudis and UAE to boost oil production_](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/14/johnson-criticised-saudis-gulf-oil-production)&quot;, the Guardian reported that _&quot;Neither Saudi or the UAE are keen to boost oil production since it would break up their oil pact with_ [_Russia_](https://www.theguardian.com/world/russia) _known as Opec+.&quot;_\n\n&quot; **The Saudis have said they will not pump more than they agreed to last year as part of a deal with Russia.&quot;**\n\nThere is additional geopolitical complexity to the dynamic between the US and western powers concerning the Gulf countries, given the Biden administration distancing itself from their brutal campaign on Yemen as public backlash mounted, partially withdrawing US support for the 6 year war.\n\n&quot; _Joe Biden, has poor relations with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, making Britain one of the most plausible western powers to persuade Saudi and the UAE to boost production.&quot;_\n\n5 days ago, [Haaretz reported](https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-as-ukraine-burns-saudi-arabia-and-uae-try-to-get-biden-to-do-their-bidding-1.10669092) that _&quot;Joe B_[_iden seemed to have found a path to the Gulf states&#39; hearts. He got the United Arab Emirates to agree_](https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-as-ukraine-burns-saudi-arabia-and-uae-try-to-get-biden-to-do-their-bidding-1.10669092) _to urge members of OPEC+ (which includes Russia) to increase oil production.&quot;_\n\n&quot;For a moment, the announcement by the UAE reduced oil prices. But on Thursday, they resumed their surge.&quot;\n\nObviously, the production hike wasn&#39;t satisfactory to keep the market at bay. When the UK prime minister got around to his trip to the Gulf and conducted talks with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, he [failed to secure additional public oil rise pledges](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/16/johnson-meets-saudi-uae-leaders-as-ukraine-war-roils-oil-prices). Similarly in alignment with the US, the British government has sought to put pressure on India, being &quot; [very disappointed](https://www.reuters.com/world/uk-very-disappointed-with-indias-stance-ukraine-trade-minister-2022-03-17/)&quot; in India&#39;s neutrality.\n\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23xyfwwhTFj22JE3MYLG6aYM4xoFoaw8pbApre7U5McXt1Ca15XhQa1ptafh55XsnafKG.png)\n\n\n#### **Strained Relations**\n\nThe [650 million dollar arms deal Biden approved in Nov. 2021](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/4/biden-administration-approves-650m-weapon-sale-to-saudi-arabia), among other deals and forms of support, does not disguise the fact that relations are strained. Biden&#39;s campaign messaging had him calling the Kingdom a pariah because of the Khashoggi killing, the impact of the war in Yemen, and [the jailing of rights activists and the boycott of Qatar.](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/13/white-house-us-joe-biden-oil-output-prices-saudi-arabia-uae) In an article titled &quot;  [White House faces oil standoff with Saudi Arabia and UAE as prices soar](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/13/white-house-us-joe-biden-oil-output-prices-saudi-arabia-uae)&quot;, the Guardian reported,\n\nBeyond that, though, **there is a strong feeling in both capitals that Biden has approached the region with a deeply critical view of countries that had long been security allies, and lenient on Iran, which remains a foe**.\n\n**Having attempted last week to recruit Venezuela to the cause of isolating Russia, the White House views efforts at repair work on the relationship with Saudi Arabia and the UAE as an acceptable price to pay.**\n\nThe administration in February sent Brett McGurk, the White House coordinator for Middle East policy, and Amos Hochstein, the state department&#39;s special energy envoy, to Riyadh for a meeting with the crown prince. **On the eve of the invasion of Ukraine, the Treasury announced sanctions on an alleged Houthi financing network.**\n\n**As the US has been playing both sides, so has the UAE.** Al Jazeera reported on the 12th that **Russians were**  [**&quot;liquidating crypto in UAE in hunt for safe havens&quot;**](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/12/russians-liquidating-crypto-in-the-uae-as-they-seek-safe-havens)\n\n**Crypto firms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are being deluged with requests to liquidate billions of dollars of virtual currency as Russians seek a safe haven for their fortunes**, according to company executives and financial sources.\n\n**Some clients are using cryptocurrency to invest in real estate in the UAE, while others want to use firms there to turn their virtual money into hard currency and stash it elsewhere,** the sources said\n\nDubai, the Gulf region&#39;s financial and business centre and a growing crypto hub, has long been [a magnet for the world&#39;s ultrarich](https://www.aljazeera.com/videos/2020/4/30/watchdog-calls-on-uae-to-improve-to-eliminate-money-laundering) and the **UAE&#39;s refusal to take sides between Western allies and Moscow has signaled to Russians their money is safe there.**\n\nThe thesis and focus of my last article was focused on Bitcoin&#39;s positive shift in fundamentals as a result of the current events surrounding the Ukraine Crisis, and this story plays right into that — but that is not the focus of this article, although worth mentioning as this specific case demonstrates that the UAE is defying US wishes and sanctions, and appeasing Russia. A consequence of which is that _&quot;The UAE was put on a &quot;grey list&quot; this month for increased monitoring by financial crime and money laundering watchdog the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).&quot;_\n\nTwo days following the article referenced above, Al-Jazeera published a related article titled, [_&quot;Analysis: Can the UAE be a safe haven for Russian oligarchs?&quot;._](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/14/analysis-can-the-uae-be-a-safe-haven-for-russian-oligarchs)\n\nAs financial warfare against Russia intensifies, Putin&#39;s administration has articulated its stance that the sanctions against it are tantamount to [declaring](https://www.aljazeera.com/program/inside-story/2022/3/11/will-the-sanctions-against-russia-work)&quot; [war](https://www.aljazeera.com/program/inside-story/2022/3/11/will-the-sanctions-against-russia-work)&quot;. Moscow is taking note of which countries are backing the West&#39;s financial fight against Russia, and which countries have not.\n\nUltimately, the UAE and some other Arab states do not want to burn bridges with Moscow in response to the war in Ukraine. These countries see their national interests best served by maintaining close partnerships with Russia long after the war ends.\n\nBut, as the piece implies, the US does not seek to tolerate this neutrality, the US government seeks subservient allies, not sovereign and equal partners. While &quot;_Abu Dhabi has signaled that it is trying to pursue a balancing act between the United States and its European partners on one side, and Russia on the other,&quot;_ the US is scrambling as it is not used to having its unilateral authority challenged — especially during such dire circumstances.\n\nIf Washington becomes increasingly convinced that the UAE is an enabler of Moscow&#39;s foreign policy agenda, helping Russia to bypass sanctions, the Biden administration will consider what actions it can take.\n\n**To pressure the UAE into sanctioning those in Putin&#39;s circle, the US could warn banks and other financial institutions in the Gulf country that they might face sanctions or penalties if they continue doing business with them.** Yet with the White House seeking Emirati cooperation in terms of oil production and other areas, it is not clear that the Biden administration would do so at this delicate time.\n\nThe subtitle of the article sourced above read: &quot;_The UAE has toed a middle line over Ukraine, but can the Biden administration put the pressure on it to change?&quot;_\n\n…the subtitle could alternatively be read, in-between-the-lines, as follows:\n\n&quot;The UAE has remained neutral, _should_ the Biden administration threaten the country in order to gain its allegiance?\n\n_ **Will threats of sanctions on the neutral gulf states and India, as we&#39;ve already seen take place, be productive, or counter productive to America&#39;s own security and stability?** _ Just **as Biden threatened India with sanctions, and it seemed to only push India into Russia&#39;s arms, threatening the gulf states with sanctions will likely do the same,** _ **encouraging them to strengthen ties with China and Russia** _ who are less (if at all)aggressive and imposing to neutral nations. _China&#39;s arms are open — even to India, with whom China has a notoriously tense relationship with_. Just a couple [days ago](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-china-border-talks-modi-xi-brics-meet-line-of-actual-control-ladakh-7823284/) [**, China proposed peace talks with India, seeking to strengthen relations**](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-china-border-talks-modi-xi-brics-meet-line-of-actual-control-ladakh-7823284/) **.** The day before publishing this piece,[**Syrian president Al-Assad traveled to the UAE**](https://www.rt.com/news/552274-syria-assad-visit-uae/) **and conducted diplomatic talks in an effort to expand relations.** The trip went well.\n\nReuters reported the following:\n\n&quot;The leaders discussed the expansion of bilateral cooperation — particularly in terms of investment and economic relations — to promote the &#39;_aspirations of the two brotherly peoples,&#39;_ Assad&#39;s administration [said](https://sana.sy/en/?p=266765).\n\nBin Zayed reportedly confirmed the **UAE&#39;s support for Syria&#39;s territorial integrity and affirmed the need for the withdrawal of &#39;** _ **all foreign forces which exist illegitimately on the Syrian lands.** __&#39;_ Assad said that, given increasing instability around the world, &#39;_we must continue with adherence to our principles, the sovereignty of our countries and the interests of our peoples.&#39; &quot;_\n\n#### **Food for thought: Is the UAE seeking to grow relationships with governments we view as our enemy a result of US policy? Are Western powers pushing neutral countries into the arms of China and Russia by not tolerating neutrality and attempting to force neutral parties to take sides?**\n\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23xyn2ngLk2XqdETHttYTi1QwcRRC6uZAVLcyG7ATdBVJoYFQnVna5RqoQV8LaGYaeWjZ.png)\n\n\nMetaphor: If someone in the dating scene was talking to multiple potential partners, would it be in their general best interest to opt for the abusive, possessive person who wants to control all aspects of their life, from finances to what friends they can and can&#39;t talk to, or would they be more likely to choose to partner with someone who seeks a more respective relationship built with more equitable terms that is less controlling and more cooperative? Instead of a domestic abuser, America is a foreign abuser. This metaphor demonstrating the US playing the role of an abuser shouldn&#39;t be needed, but Americans and Europeans can be quite oblivious as to how their government&#39;s actions are perceived by the rest of the world.\n\n#### **Hunting for Oil, Biden Turns to Long-Sanctioned Venezuela, Iran**\n\nBiden has been scrambling to gain the Saudi&#39;s favor, with efforts to appease such as [turning over to Saudi custody the &quot;20th hijacker&quot;](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/07/us/politics/saudi-arabia-911-hijacker.html) who spent 20 years in Guantanamo on the 7th. However, Biden was hedging his bets, reaching out to not just Venezuela (world&#39;s largest oil reserves), but Iran as well, who has also been subjected to crippling sanctions for years. **Attempting to restore relations with Venezuela, as referenced by the excerpt above, was regarded by many as being primarily motivated by the need to access alternative oil supplies to offset the energy crisis.** Although the Guardian framed it as for the purpose of isolating Russia, albeit that certainly is an interplaying factor. On the 10th, WSJ published &quot; [**Ukraine War Pushes Biden Toward Venezuela, Iran and Saudi Arabia in Oil Hunt**](https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-war-drives-u-s-hunt-for-more-oil-to-help-tame-rising-prices-11646935216) **&quot;,** in which they summarized:\n\n&quot;The[war in Ukraine](https://wsj.com/livecoverage/latest-updates/russia-ukraine-latest-news) has added urgency to the Biden administration&#39;s months long search for new oil supplies, as it seeks to contain surging energy prices through talks at home and diplomacy abroad with friends and foes alike.\n\nThe rush to fill gaps from Russia&#39;s rapidly shrinking contribution to the global energy markets has led the White House to oil-rich nations in the Middle East, countries under U.S. sanctions and private-sector oil giants meeting this week in Houston. But the quest has been complicated by several factors, including President Biden&#39;s vow to take a tougher line against Saudi Arabia over human-rights abuses, domestic political pressure and [post-pandemic supply-chain disruptions](https://www.wsj.com/articles/frackers-say-bottlenecks-slow-them-from-ramping-up-as-oil-prices-soar-11646835536?mod=article_inline).&quot;\n\nOn **March 8th, Maduro announced that he had met with a delegation from DC over that weekend in what were the &quot;** [_ **highest level American visit to the country since 1999** _](https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1580945/russia-war-Venezuela-Vladimir-Putin-Joe-Biden-Nicol-s-Maduro-russia-Ukraine-conflict)[**s**](https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1580945/russia-war-Venezuela-Vladimir-Putin-Joe-Biden-Nicol-s-Maduro-russia-Ukraine-conflict)[&quot;](https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1580945/russia-war-Venezuela-Vladimir-Putin-Joe-Biden-Nicol-s-Maduro-russia-Ukraine-conflict). Maduro even agreed on an agenda for future talks, saying to the press: _&quot;Last Saturday night a delegation from the government of the United States of America arrived in Venezuela, I received it here at the presidential palace. We had a meeting, I could describe it as respectful, cordial, very diplomatic.&quot;_ Al-Jazeera would [point out](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/8/venezuela-talks-us) that a month before the meeting, the US had hinted it would review the general sanctions it has placed on the country if talks between the Maduro government and opposition advanced. It was reported that during the meeting, the possibility of easing US sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports was discussed.\n\nLikewise Iran was approached, who has also been suffering under general sanctions for years. **During this time period, as the US explores the idea of reestablishing relations with Iran during a time of need, they are still partaking in piracy by seizing Iranian oil tankers** as Reuters reported last week in [&quot;U.S. seizing tankers has failed to stop Iran&#39;s oil exports, minister says&quot;](https://www.reuters.com/world/us-seizing-tankers-has-failed-stop-irans-oil-exports-minister-says-2022-03-12/).\n\nThe United States has on several occasions in the past months violated Iranian oil tankers to prevent export of shipments,&quot; Javad Owji said in an interview carried by Iranian media.\n\n&quot;When the enemy realised it could not stop our exports and contracts, they went after our ships,&quot; Owji said.\n\nTo reemphasize my thesis.. **This overbearing encroachment on the trade, property, and sovereignty of foreign nations** , a product of American exceptionalism and entitlement, **is going to be the downfall of US, economically and diplomatically,**** as the countries we seek to control realize it is not in their interest to continue allowing the US to remain the dominant power of the world.**\n\nMeanwhile, in anticipation of a renegotiation of the Iran nuclear deal, the [UAE has been lobbying](https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-uae-said-pressing-us-for-security-guarantees-from-iran/) for stronger protection from [Iran, who recently &quot;temporarily suspended&quot; direct talks with Saudi Arabia](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/13/iran-temporarily-suspends-direct-talks-with-saudi-arabia) as global tensions mount. **As significant US allies look to be abandoning ship, the US has sought out enemies,** governments who have been subjugated to crippling sanctions for years **, for comfort — if they have oil.** One should not have to read too much between the lines to realize that this is a sign of the US empire&#39;s decline; the dynamic does not bode well for the long term diplomatic stability of the US. A sign of desperation, even.\n\n#### **Upheaval of Current World Economic Order, Petrodollar To Be Challenged**\n\n**Saudi Arabia and the UAE appear to be distancing themselves from Western Powers as they explore bolstering their relations with Russia and China.** While the US pressures neutral parties to sanction Russia, Russia and China are building an alternative economic system to that which has dominated the globe for decades. [Russia being kicked off the SWIFT](https://medium.com/coinmonks/ukraine-crisis-triggered-a-massive-shift-in-fundamentals-for-bitcoin-336af1b5e2b4) international payment system, of course, expedited this into a rapid development by necessity. Lynnwood Times published on March 6th, **&quot;** [**Chinese Yuan at the precipice to becoming an alternative Global Reserve Currency**](https://lynnwoodtimes.com/2022/03/06/brics-nations/) **&quot;** _, in which it was reported:_\n\n&quot;Today, Russian banks announced a plan to issue credit cards using China&#39;s [UnionPay system](http://www.unionpayintl.com/en/) after Visa and Mastercard moved to [suspend operations](https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/visa-suspends-operations-russia-over-ukraine-invasion-2022-03-05/) in Russia over Moscow&#39;s military intervention in Ukraine. UnionPay is now the second largest and fastest-growing global credit card network. Major Russian lenders Sberbank, Alfa Bank, Rosbank, Tinkoff Bank, and the Credit Bank of Moscow (MKB) have confirmed that they are immediately working on a rollout of UnionPay cards.&quot;\n\n&quot;China&#39;s [CIPS system](https://www.cips.com.cn/en/index/index.html) is the alternative to the Euro-centric [SWIFT banking system](https://www.swift.com/) — a messaging network that financial institutions across the globe use to securely transmit information for monetary transactions. Today&#39;s announcement of Russian banks issuing millions of credit cards able to transact under China&#39;s UnionPay global credit card network, the second largest in the world, further erodes the Euro-centric western control of the world&#39;s central banking system.&quot;\n\n### &quot;_ **What we could be witnessing in real-time is the &#39;excuse&#39; by the BRICS nations to move away from the US dollar as the Global Reserve Currency that went into effect in 1944 as a result of the Bretton Woods Agreement.&quot;** _\n\n**BRICS, composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa** is a term coined byO&#39;Neill, Goldman Sachs&#39; head of economic research in 2001. **BRICS nations are those developing countries expected to be the dominant suppliers of manufactured goods and raw materials by 2050.** South Africa joined India and China in abstaining from the UN resolution condemning Russia. The president of South Africa also [recently](https://www.jpost.com/international/article-701571) pointed blame at NATO for provoking the Russia-Ukraine war with its eastern expansion. Speaking to parliament, president Ramaphosa said the, &quot;The war could have been avoided if NATO had heeded the warnings from amongst its own leaders and officials over the years that its eastward expansion would lead to greater, not less, instability in the region.&quot; He also clarify that South Africa &quot;cannot condone the use of force and violation of international law&quot; — referring to the invasion itself.\n\n&quot;There are those who are insisting that we should take a very adversarial stance against Russia. The approach we are going to take (instead) is … insisting that there should be dialogue. Screaming and shouting is not going to bring an end to this conflict.&quot;\n\nAs Lynnwood reported, **&quot;According to** [**BRICS 2021 Economic Bulletin** _](https://lynnwoodtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/getdocu-72.pdf)_ **, BRICS nations account for 41% of global population, 24% of global GDP, and 16% of global trade. BRICS nations signed a Contingent Reserve Arrangement to meet short-term liquidity needs of its fellow members. This financial safety net is now front and center as Euro-centric western banks are threatening the economic stability of Russia, a BRICS member, with economic sanctions.&quot;** \n\nChinese state-run media announced yesterday that Chinese president[&quot;Xi Jinping says China&#39;s ready to work with South Africa to advance BRICS cooperation](https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-03-18/Xi-Ramaphosa-hold-phone-talks-18vlLtaS3Xq/index.html)&quot;.\n\n&quot;China stands ready to work with South Africa to promote the BRICS cooperative mechanism and maintain its momentum of development, Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a phone call with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday afternoon.\n\n**Noting that China is this year&#39;s chair of BRICS, Xi called for member countries to build a more comprehensive, close, pragmatic and inclusive partnership of high quality to realize their own development** and promote a stronger, greener and healthier global development.\n\nThe Chinese side is also ready to work with all the other members to uphold genuine multilateralism, safeguard international fairness and justice, and protect the legitimate rights and common interests of emerging markets and developing countries to contribute to a stable world economic recovery and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi.\n\n**Ramaphosa said South Africa supports China&#39;s work as the chair of BRICS and looks forward to a successful BRICS Summit.**\n\nZerohedge noted in their coverage regarding the economic splintering (that is a result of economic warfare) that _ **&quot;UnionPay is the dominant payments handler in China but has a small market share outside of the world&#39;s second-largest economy.** _ **&quot; In other words, they have a lot of room to grow.**\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Yuan Deposits Soar At Russian Banks After SWIFT Cut-Off <a href=\"https://t.co/NiqJblHipi\">https://t.co/NiqJblHipi</a></p>&mdash; zerohedge (@zerohedge) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/zerohedge/status/1503102411430375430?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 13, 2022</a></blockquote> \n\nRussia isn&#39;t the only one looking to grow relations with China. RollCall published [&quot;China-UAE ties raise US technology safety questions for lawmakers&quot;](https://rollcall.com/2022/03/15/china-uae-ties-raise-us-technology-safety-questions-for-lawmakers/) just days ago.\n\n&quot;Congress has directed U.S. intelligence agencies to take a closer look at the growing relationship between China and the United Arab Emirates, raising questions about American military technology leaking to Beijing via a close ally.\n\nIn a fiscal 2022 intelligence authorization bill that was tucked into an omnibus spending measure passed last week, lawmakers asked U.S. spy agencies to assess and provide details on the &quot;cooperation between China and the United Arab Emirates regarding defense, security, technology, and other strategically sensitive matters that implicate the national security interests of the United States.&quot;\n\nJust days ago, WSJ published an exclusive titled,[_ **&quot;Saudi Arabia Considers Accepting Yuan Instead of Dollars for Chinese Oil Sales&quot;** _](https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-considers-accepting-yuan-instead-of-dollars-for-chinese-oil-sales-11647351541)_ **.** _ The subtitled elaborated that _ **&quot;** __Talks between Riyadh and Beijing have accelerated as the Saudi unhappiness grows with Washington&quot;._\n\n&quot; **Saudi Arabia is in active talks with Beijing to price some of its oil sales to China in yuan,** people familiar with the matter said, **a move that would dent the U.S. dollar&#39;s dominance of the global petroleum market** and **mark another** [**shift by the world&#39;s top crude exporter toward Asia**](https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-invites-chinas-xi-to-visit-kingdom-amid-strained-u-s-relations-11647284211?mod=article_inline) **.**\n\nThe **talks with China over yuan-priced oil contracts have been off and on for six years but have accelerated this year as the Saudis have** [**grown increasingly unhappy**](https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-emirati-leaders-decline-calls-with-biden-during-ukraine-crisis-11646779430?mod=article_inline) with decades-old U.S. security commitments to defend the kingdom, the people said&quot;\n\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/Eos2oNFLLFcgwMtWC8iKseo53ddemEPfLkbYm9qQ8Lqu7HPrqxeCDzJXMnkmW1dpP7R.png)\n![](RackMultipart20220319-4-1umb27x_html_e0c219c69297a603.jpg)\n\n#### **The Petrodollar System&#39;s Significance**\n\nThis move by Saudi Arabia is significant in terms of the world energy market which, as this conflict thus far has demonstrated, impacts nearly all extraneous markets. **The Petrodollar system, the global standard of trading oil in US dollars which has been a major factor in keeping the US dollar the dominant world reserve currency, was established largely with the support and help of Saudi Arabia.** [Investopedia summarizes](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/forex/072915/how-petrodollars-affect-us-dollar.asp#:~:text=The%20emergence%20of%20the%20petrodollar,investments%20in%20the%20United%20States.):\n\n&quot; **The emergence of the petrodollar dates back to the early 1970s when the U.S. reached an** agreement **with Saudi Arabia to standardize the sale of oil based on the U.S. dollar.&quot;**\n\n**Notice how the agreement happened in the early 1970&#39;s, during the end of the collapse of the Bretton Woods system, in which Nixon removed the gold-standard** and turned &quot;Goldbacks&quot; — dollars backed by gold--into &quot;Greenbacks&quot; — dollars backed by nothing. The Petrodollar is infamous in my circles for being the backbone of the dollar&#39;s dominant reserve currency status. **While many** , like Ray Dalio who was featured in the first article, **are pointing out the world economic order seems to be on the brink of a massive transition, many experts are** [**calling**](https://cointelegraph.com/news/bretton-woods-2-0-is-knocking-at-our-door-and-it-s-not-here-to-help) **for a new** [**Bretton Woods conference**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretton_Woods_Conference) **,** which in 1944 established the IMF and the original[Bretton Woods system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretton_Woods_system).\n\n#### **Bretton Woods, And Its Collapse**\n\n[According to the IMF itself](https://www.imf.org/external/about/histend.htm), between 1968 and 1973, **the Bretton Woods paradigm started collapsing as the dollar struggled and gold reserves were plundered as many redeemed their dollars for gold**. _ **1971, Nixon announced the &quot;temporary&quot; suspension of the dollar&#39;s convertibility into gold, which was as temporary as the inflation we are experiencing is to be transitory.** _\n\n&quot;The Bretton Woods system was the first example of a fully[negotiated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Representative_money) monetary order intended to govern monetary relations among independent states. **The chief features of the Bretton Woods system were an obligation for each country to adopt a** [**monetary policy**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monetary_policy) **that maintained its external** [**exchange rates**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exchange_rate) **within 1 percent by** [**tying its currency to gold**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_standard) and the ability of the[International Monetary Fund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Monetary_Fund) (IMF) to bridge temporary[imbalances of payments](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balance_of_payments). Also, there was a need to address the lack of cooperation among other countries and to prevent[competitive devaluation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competitive_devaluation) of the currencies as well.&quot;\n\nSetting up a system of rules, institutions, and procedures to regulate the international monetary system, these accords established the IMF and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), which today is part of the World Bank Group. _ **The United States, which controlled two-thirds of the world&#39;s gold, insisted that the Bretton Woods system rest on both gold and the US dollar.** _\n\n**The system that would replace it would be characterized by** [**floating exchange rates**](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/floatingexchangerate.asp#:~:text=A%20floating%20exchange%20rate%20is,or%20predominantly%20determines%20the%20rate.) **, which value currencies relative to other world currencies — rather than being pegged to gold** and the dollar.[**The Bretton Wood system&#39;s success depended**](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09538259.2021.1952011?journalCode=crpe20) **on &quot;** _ **low international** _[_ **capital mobility** _](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_mobility)_ **, tight** _[_ **financial regulation** _](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_regulation)_ **, and the dominant economic and financial position of the United States and the** _[_ **dollar** _](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve_currency)_ **.&quot;** _ **The collapse of the system lead to** [**cascading debt resulting from the economic fallout**](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/economics-econometrics-and-finance/bretton-woods-system) **, and ultimately a debt-based economy revolving around debt-based currencies backed by faith- rather than gold or anything remotely tangible.**\n\n### **Shifting Economic Order**\n\n**Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and India appear to be distancing themselves from Western Powers as they explore expanding their relations with Russia and China.** This is significant in terms of the world energy market which, as this Ukraine conflict thus far has demonstrated, impacts nearly all extraneous markets. According to the most[recent statistics](https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=709&amp;t=6) released by the Energy Information Administration Statistics, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE collectively control roughly 27% of the world&#39;s oil production. Brazil, a[BRICS](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/brics.asp)member along with Russia and China, contributes another 4%, Iran another 3%.\n\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23u6WpytgmuS4sLJyX9mBCLgL1Da6uqqst5UUHqZiRULEeHtwjLWGZwyeMCB6A9WZ3q3M.png)\n\n\nAs referenced in the introduction, the[UAE minister recently said that the UAE is keen to cooperate with Russia on energy security](https://www.reuters.com/world/uae-keen-cooperate-energy-security-with-russia-minister-2022-03-17/). The Wall Street Journal published four days ago the headline, &quot;[Saudi Arabia Invites China&#39;s Xi to Visit Kingdom Amid Strained U.S. Relations&quot;](https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-invites-chinas-xi-to-visit-kingdom-amid-strained-u-s-relations-11647284211)\n\n&quot;Saudi Arabia has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Riyadh as the kingdom looks to deepen ties with Beijing amid strained relations with Washington, people familiar with the plan said.&quot;\n\nOn the same day the WSJ published the aforementioned article, Al-Moniter published[&quot;Saudi cooperation with China continues with finalization of long-planned refinery deal&quot;](https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/03/saudi-cooperation-china-continues-finalization-long-planned-refinery-deal)\n\nSaudi&#39;s state-owned oil company, Aramco, finalized a [10 billion dollar] deal yesterday to built a major refinery and petrochemical complex in China. **One Aramco executive said that China is key to their plans to expand in Asia.**\n\n&quot; **China is a cornerstone of our downstream expansion strategy in Asia and an increasingly significant driver of global chemical demand** ,&quot; said Mohammed al-Qahtani, per the agency.\n\nAramco has held the title for the largest company in the world on-and-off for nearly two decades, and[is nipping on the heels of Apple&#39;s market cap](https://www.google.com/search?q=largest+company+in+the+world+aramco&amp;ei=v540Yuv9M6mFytMP5byyyAg&amp;ved=0ahUKEwir2cva9s_2AhWpgnIEHWWeDIkQ4dUDCA4&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=largest+company+in+the+world+aramco&amp;gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBggAEBYQHjIGCAAQFhAeOgcIABBHELADOg0ILhDHARCjAhCwAxBDOgcIABCwAxBDOgoIABDkAhCwAxgBOhIILhDHARDRAxDIAxCwAxBDGAI6EgguEMcBEKMCEMgDELADEEMYAjoECAAQQzoFCAAQgARKBAhBGABKBAhGGAFQiAFYnAdgygloAXABeACAAXOIAecFkgEDMi41mAEAoAEByAETwAEB2gEGCAEQARgJ2gEGCAIQARgI&amp;sclient=gws-wiz). The significance and influence of the company cannot be understated. Of course, **this development by Aramco is parallel and connected with the Saudi&#39;s recent consideration of breaking away from the petrodollar standard and accepting the Yuan.** In the face of shifting allegiances, and defiance of US expectations, **the future of geopolitical relations is uncertain, although the trend paints a picture of the US losing allies as Russia and China gain momentum.**\n\nJust 7 years ago, **in 2015, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank(AIIB) launched**, which China&#39;s leader Xi Jinping had proposed in 2013. **Many economists have interpreted the AIIB** (should be self-evident in this author&#39;s opinion) **to be a rival to international lending bodies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank,** _ **&quot;which some consider too reflective of American foreign policy interests&quot;.** _\n\nInvestopedia reports tha **t &quot;China controls half of the bank&#39;s** [**voting shares**](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/votingshares.asp) **, which gives the perception that the AIIB will function in the interests of the Chinese government.&quot;** Naturally, **the US has not been thrilled about the world economic institutions under its thumb being challenged by China,** _ **&quot;pressuring allies not to apply for membership.** __&quot;_[Investopedia summarizes](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/asian-infrastructure-investment-bank-aiib.asp): &quot;_ **However, despite American objections, approximately half of NATO has signed on**__, as has nearly every large Asian country, with the exception of Japan._ _ **The result is widely considered as an indicator of China&#39;s growing international influence at the expense of the United States.&quot;** _\n\n#### **Conclusion**\n\nThe **AIIB and BRICS will likely play a large role in the new economic world order discussed in** [**my last**](https://bitboycrypto.com/ukraine-crisis-triggered-a-massive-shift-in-fundamentals-for-bitcoin/) **publication from a week ago. The AIIB already has half of NATO signed on, and is gaining traction with the** [**Silk Road Belt and Road initiative**](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/chinas-massive-belt-and-road-initiative) **. China is this year&#39;s BRICS summit leader** , for the 14th summit. BRICS members South Africa and India have remained relatively neutral, although in this author&#39;s opinion they are looking to cozy up with the Russia/China axis and its emerging economic network as they realize that their neutrality makes them out to be an apparent enemy of the US and the NATO alliance — judging by the threats of sanctions by the latter. The same goes for the gulf states, although they are not BRICS. Threats of unilateral sanctions are to be taken seriously. Putin said the sanctions imposed on Russia are akin &quot;to an act of war&quot;. This author thinks, thank God. Finally someone said it.\n\nLots of people on the left will talk about how poverty kills, how humans need money to survive. They admit how essential money is to peoples&#39; literal lives, yet turn around and defend sanctions that target an entire population&#39;s economy/lifeline. As Caitlin Johnstone wrote in &quot;[Starvation Sanctions Are Worse Than Overt Warfare&quot;](https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2019/06/23/starvation-sanctions-are-worse-than-overt-warfare/):\n\n&quot; **Sanctions Are Worse Than Overt Warfare&quot;,** and I mean it. **I am not saying that starvation sanctions are more destructive or deadly than overt military force in and of themselves** ; what I am saying is that **the overall effect is worse, because there&#39;s no public accountability for them and because they deliberately target civilians.&quot;**\n\nTo reintroduce the domestic abuser metaphor, if an abuser goes far enough as to make a serious threat to a victim, such as threatening to kill them. The abused, if they realize they have to escape or the cycle will continue, will likely try to keep their heads low and appear complacent and bide their time until they have an opportunity to leave for good. Letting someone, who is making unhinged threats towards you, know that you have had enough and are leaving, could be dangerous and result in the threats being followed through on. India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa, and others yet to be as entangled, could simply be biding their time as they seek a smooth transition. While India and the Gulf have been scolded and threatened by the US for continuing to trade with Russia, Many countries on the peripheral, such as Germany, continue importing Russian oil.\n\n**As Saudi Arabia is seeking to abandon the Petrodollar, India is seeking to phase out the dollar as a reserve currency in trade with Russia** (and likely its trade partners such as China in the future), **the dollar&#39;s reserve currency status faces a great threat. Saudi Arabia&#39;s departure from the standard it was instrumental in creating could embolden other countries to follow suit. Likewise, as multiple countries bolster relations with Russia and China** (Or allies of theirs, such as the UAE meeting with Syrian president Assad) **, and defy the US&#39;s wishes and implicit or direct threats, this could embolden others to do the same in the future. We could be witnessing the fall of the US empire, and its reserve currency, coincided by the rise of an emerging power structure and world economic system.**",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"russia\",\"china\",\"usa\",\"sanctions\",\"uae\",\"saudi\",\"india\",\"brics\"],\"users\":[\"zerohedge\"],\"image\":[\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23xyfwwhTFj22JE3MYLG6aYM4xoFoaw8pbApre7U5McXt1Ca15XhQa1ptafh55XsnafKG.png\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23xyn2ngLk2XqdETHttYTi1QwcRRC6uZAVLcyG7ATdBVJoYFQnVna5RqoQV8LaGYaeWjZ.png\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/Eos2oNFLLFcgwMtWC8iKseo53ddemEPfLkbYm9qQ8Lqu7HPrqxeCDzJXMnkmW1dpP7R.png\",\"RackMultipart20220319-4-1umb27x_html_e0c219c69297a603.jpg\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23u6WpytgmuS4sLJyX9mBCLgL1Da6uqqst5UUHqZiRULEeHtwjLWGZwyeMCB6A9WZ3q3M.png\"],\"links\":[\"https://bitboycrypto.com/ukraine-crisis-triggered-a-massive-shift-in-fundamentals-for-bitcoin/\",\"https://medium.com/coinmonks/ukraine-crisis-triggered-a-massive-shift-in-fundamentals-for-bitcoin-336af1b5e2b4\",\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-emirati-leaders-decline-calls-with-biden-during-ukraine-crisis-11646779430\",\"https://nypost.com/2022/03/08/saudi-uae-leaders-ignore-biden-when-he-calls-to-talk-gas-prices-report/\",\"https://news.yahoo.com/blinken-downplays-reports-saudi-uae-214904775.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJDV8u576mc1zsetzj_pJ7Akmr1c2-jnCHCykWaHcbvV5Pe6Q8p23B-wm7PEwcHxmU7uEaEr6ejlXoojR9nPBVa7QUv4j-fvIKeZGXJc5XpPTRyFi5SKCuo5hRzzpVP3b8rsqKlp_bkSZCeD4EO0SxYz79q3EmFaJI1OgFBJjvy4\",\"https://www.foxnews.com/politics/us-uk-vow-defeat-russia-putin\",\"https://www.foxnews.com/category/world/world-regions/russia\",\"https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/india-ukraine-sanction-biden-unga-b2027646.html\",\"https://thehill.com/policy/international/596693-biden-weighing-sanctions-on-india-over-russian-military-stockpiles\",\"https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/598762-india-buys-3-million-barrels-of-russian-oil-report\",\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/17/india-russia-oil/\",\"https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/3/18/russian-oil-sale-to-india-complicates-bidens-efforts\",\"https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/3/10/russia-we-have-enough-oil-and-gas-buyers-even-with-sanctions\",\"https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/9/us-bans-russian-oil-what-does-this-mean-for-oil-prices\",\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-considers-accepting-yuan-instead-of-dollars-for-chinese-oil-sales-11647351541\",\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/14/johnson-criticised-saudis-gulf-oil-production\",\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/russia\",\"https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-as-ukraine-burns-saudi-arabia-and-uae-try-to-get-biden-to-do-their-bidding-1.10669092\",\"https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/16/johnson-meets-saudi-uae-leaders-as-ukraine-war-roils-oil-prices\",\"https://www.reuters.com/world/uk-very-disappointed-with-indias-stance-ukraine-trade-minister-2022-03-17/\",\"https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/4/biden-administration-approves-650m-weapon-sale-to-saudi-arabia\",\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/13/white-house-us-joe-biden-oil-output-prices-saudi-arabia-uae\",\"https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/12/russians-liquidating-crypto-in-the-uae-as-they-seek-safe-havens\",\"https://www.aljazeera.com/videos/2020/4/30/watchdog-calls-on-uae-to-improve-to-eliminate-money-laundering\",\"https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/14/analysis-can-the-uae-be-a-safe-haven-for-russian-oligarchs\",\"https://www.aljazeera.com/program/inside-story/2022/3/11/will-the-sanctions-against-russia-work\",\"https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-china-border-talks-modi-xi-brics-meet-line-of-actual-control-ladakh-7823284/\",\"https://www.rt.com/news/552274-syria-assad-visit-uae/\",\"https://sana.sy/en/?p=266765\",\"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/07/us/politics/saudi-arabia-911-hijacker.html\",\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-war-drives-u-s-hunt-for-more-oil-to-help-tame-rising-prices-11646935216\",\"https://wsj.com/livecoverage/latest-updates/russia-ukraine-latest-news\",\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/frackers-say-bottlenecks-slow-them-from-ramping-up-as-oil-prices-soar-11646835536?mod=article_inline\",\"https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1580945/russia-war-Venezuela-Vladimir-Putin-Joe-Biden-Nicol-s-Maduro-russia-Ukraine-conflict\",\"https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/8/venezuela-talks-us\",\"https://www.reuters.com/world/us-seizing-tankers-has-failed-stop-irans-oil-exports-minister-says-2022-03-12/\",\"https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-uae-said-pressing-us-for-security-guarantees-from-iran/\",\"https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/13/iran-temporarily-suspends-direct-talks-with-saudi-arabia\",\"https://lynnwoodtimes.com/2022/03/06/brics-nations/\",\"http://www.unionpayintl.com/en/\",\"https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/visa-suspends-operations-russia-over-ukraine-invasion-2022-03-05/\",\"https://www.cips.com.cn/en/index/index.html\",\"https://www.swift.com/\",\"https://www.jpost.com/international/article-701571\",\"https://lynnwoodtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/getdocu-72.pdf\",\"https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-03-18/Xi-Ramaphosa-hold-phone-talks-18vlLtaS3Xq/index.html\",\"https://t.co/NiqJblHipi\",\"https://twitter.com/zerohedge/status/1503102411430375430?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://rollcall.com/2022/03/15/china-uae-ties-raise-us-technology-safety-questions-for-lawmakers/\",\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-invites-chinas-xi-to-visit-kingdom-amid-strained-u-s-relations-11647284211?mod=article_inline\",\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-emirati-leaders-decline-calls-with-biden-during-ukraine-crisis-11646779430?mod=article_inline\",\"https://www.investopedia.com/articles/forex/072915/how-petrodollars-affect-us-dollar.asp#:~:text=The%20emergence%20of%20the%20petrodollar,investments%20in%20the%20United%20States.\",\"https://cointelegraph.com/news/bretton-woods-2-0-is-knocking-at-our-door-and-it-s-not-here-to-help\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretton_Woods_Conference\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretton_Woods_system\",\"https://www.imf.org/external/about/histend.htm\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Representative_money\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monetary_policy\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exchange_rate\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_standard\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Monetary_Fund\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balance_of_payments\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competitive_devaluation\",\"https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/floatingexchangerate.asp#:~:text=A%20floating%20exchange%20rate%20is,or%20predominantly%20determines%20the%20rate.\",\"https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09538259.2021.1952011?journalCode=crpe20\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_mobility\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_regulation\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve_currency\",\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/economics-econometrics-and-finance/bretton-woods-system\",\"https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=709&amp;t=6\",\"https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/brics.asp\",\"https://www.reuters.com/world/uae-keen-cooperate-energy-security-with-russia-minister-2022-03-17/\",\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-invites-chinas-xi-to-visit-kingdom-amid-strained-u-s-relations-11647284211\",\"https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/03/saudi-cooperation-china-continues-finalization-long-planned-refinery-deal\",\"https://www.google.com/search?q=largest+company+in+the+world+aramco&amp;ei=v540Yuv9M6mFytMP5byyyAg&amp;ved=0ahUKEwir2cva9s_2AhWpgnIEHWWeDIkQ4dUDCA4&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=largest+company+in+the+world+aramco&amp;gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBggAEBYQHjIGCAAQFhAeOgcIABBHELADOg0ILhDHARCjAhCwAxBDOgcIABCwAxBDOgoIABDkAhCwAxgBOhIILhDHARDRAxDIAxCwAxBDGAI6EgguEMcBEKMCEMgDELADEEMYAjoECAAQQzoFCAAQgARKBAhBGABKBAhGGAFQiAFYnAdgygloAXABeACAAXOIAecFkgEDMi41mAEAoAEByAETwAEB2gEGCAEQARgJ2gEGCAIQARgI&amp;sclient=gws-wiz\",\"https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/votingshares.asp\",\"https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/asian-infrastructure-investment-bank-aiib.asp\",\"https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/chinas-massive-belt-and-road-initiative\",\"https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2019/06/23/starvation-sanctions-are-worse-than-overt-warfare/\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "66670ba0b4adf1ab3a0b33070371a1a85c55c03b",
  "block": 62556766,
  "trx_in_block": 4,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2022-03-19T12:14:36",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "russia",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "ukraine-crisis-triggered-a-massive-shift-in-fundamentals-for-bitcoin",
      "title": "Ukraine Crisis Triggered a Massive Shift in Fundamentals for Bitcoin",
      "body": "# **While Geopolitical Relations Crumble, Bitcoin’s Fundamentals Grow**\n\n## **Macroeconomic Trend Leading Up To The Invasion of Ukraine**\nIn January, rumors and [speculation](https://www.reuters.com/business/fed-raise-rates-three-times-this-year-tame-unruly-inflation-2022-01-20/) of upcoming interest rate hikes and the tapering of bond purchases by the Federal Reserve stirred the markets. The crypto markets along with the rest of the markets turned bearish, as this would mark the first time in three years the FED raised rates, after the largest period of spending in history. A reversal in the Federal Reserve’s policy, from expansionary to contractionary, would see liquidity drained from markets, risk mitigation, and asset sell-offs in juxtaposition with servicing of debt.\n\nAhead of the Federal Reserve’s monthly meeting on Jan. 26th, Roberto Perli, chief economist at Cornerstone Macro and former Fed staffer [said](https://www.kaaltv.com/national-news/fed-to-signal-rate-hike-as-it-launches-risky-inflation-fight/6367982/) regarding rate-hikes that “The consensus is that the time has come to move, The debate is over how fast”. By the time the [Fed meeting rolled around on Jan.26th](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/26/fed-decision-january-2022-.html) , and board members first confirmed the possibility of interest rate hikes in March, bitcoin had already broken 40k support and formed a new relative low as it descended from the all time high.\n\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/Eo8ZVfHUgYwx3mm3dF2HhDf3oEvefpXEeGrBMKTgADXxLs8i35S76sEPaBSutUdUToy.png)\n\n\nThe subsequent day after the 26th, [leaks emerged from the White House](https://www.barrons.com/articles/white-house-executive-action-regulate-cryptos-national-security-51643312454)**Bold** reporting that, ***“The Biden administration is preparing to release an executive action that will task federal agencies with regulating digital assets such as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a matter of national security”.***\n\nInteresting. A**s inflation was nearing an alarming level that even printer-happy economists were uncomfortable with, suddenly the government saw decentralized, deflationary currency as a “national security risk”.**\n## Crypto, National Security Threat?\n\nMaybe there is some truth in that, if your view of national security is clinging to an empire’s outdated method of control and refusing to address the problems inherent to your monetary system that you impose on the rest of the world.\n\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23u5vfKsnFKYEpMUjiPacMMAZYj7jnyBcaw9TBTQT9LHPMfbAnJRqY57Lif6i8pLYGFbZ.png)\n\nOne could easily argue that Crypto’s success is a symptom of the national security threat of irresponsible and reckless spending/printing, let alone the very structure of the system the Fed operates within, or more appropriately, is in charge of. Has anybody considered by now... maybe Ron Paul was right? Maybe the Fed isn't, and never was in the best interest of the nation’s population. Perhaps that's why the founding fathers had so many various quotes warning of such an institution.\n\n**Billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio recently released a [short documentary](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xguam0TKMw8&t=831s) based on his recent book titled**, *“The Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail”.* In his documentary, **Dalio paints the strength of a country’s currency, as a reserve currency used by foreign parties in international trade, as the final building block of an empire, and a key measure of an Empire’s strength.** This shouldn’t surprise anybody who understands the role that reserve currency status has for a nation in international trade, and the power that comes with such an advantage. In the video, he states the following:\n\n> “So how am I measuring an empire’s power? In this study I used eight metrics. Each country’s measure of total power is derived by averaging them together. They are education, inventiveness and technology development, competitiveness in global markets, economic output, share of world trade, military strength, the power of their financial center for capital markets, and the strength of their currency as a reserve currency. Because these powers are measurable we can see how strong each country is now was in the past and whether they’re rising or declining by examining the sequences from many countries we can see how a typical cycle transpires.\n\n> **We can simplify it a bit to focus on the pattern of cause-effect relationships that drive the rise and decline of a typical empire as you can see better education typically leads to increased innovation and technology development and with a lag,** **[ultimately] **the establishment of the currency as a reserve currency**.”\n\nHe describes a lag relative to the other factors that a currency’s reserve strength interplays with. By lag, the phenomenon can be compared to the light from a star giving delayed information, and just as if something changes in a star’s hemisphere and it takes time to detect that due to the speed of light, it takes time for reserve currency to reflect the macrocosmic changes of an Empire’s structural integrity. Critical as is the light that sheds information on a star, the declining respect for the US dollar as a reserve currency sheds light on the state of the empire — and it’s getting weaker. In his model, his observes that the repetitive pattern of the rise and fall of empires typically has a collision point, compromised of domestic revolutions and foreign wars as a given empire begins to parabolically decline.\n\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23swgMrefKp4yoEvcPWzgXDrdbKGP8UNPRwh3Q3zGZKpEBPc3fttUB4cXrv3v6RD6NAGd.png)\n\n## Bitcoin’s Reaction to the Invasion\nSpeaking of revolutions and wars, and tying back to this article’s focal point, since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24th, Bitcoin has continued to trade within the channel between 45k and 35k. In fact, the day of the invasion, there was a massive amount of buy volume that exceeded the sell volume of the 21st.\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23wCdah6DsC9ojc9kLENhLKDyF5ocgnRcoGg1rJrpQ2ha3heiKgedvFGnx41QHAqp3pTu.png)\n\nFrom a technical analysis perspective, arguments can be made for both the bearish and bullish side, depending on what time frame one looks at, and what indicators one prioritizes. But this is crypto, and chart movements counter-intuitive to TA happen all the time, whether from market manipulation, or a shift in fundamentals. Technicals matter, but Fundamentals rule. Today we are talking about the latter.\n## Implications of the Conflict on Federal Reserve Policy\nSo how has Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shifted the fundamentals of the general market? The day of Russia’s invasion, Goldman Sachs released a statement in which they stated the following:\n> “The combination of upside inflation risk and downside growth risk has mixed implications for monetary policy. **Historically, Fed officials have sometimes preferred to delay major policy decisions until uncertainty surrounding geopolitical risks diminished.** In some cases, such as after September 11 or during the US-China trade war, the FOMC has cut the funds rate.\n\n> *The current situation is different from past episodes when geopolitical events led the Fed to delay tightening or ease because inflation risk has created a stronger and more urgent reason for the Fed to tighten today than existed in past episodes*”\n\nIn essence, Goldman is saying that usually during times of geopolitical turmoil, the Federal Reserve doesn’t make major policy changes, but this situation is particularly bad. Early talks of a .50% rate hike diminished into talks of a 25 point hike. This week Federal Reserve chair [Powell told](https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/2022-03-02/the-federal-reserve-is-ready-to-raise-interest-rates-soon-despite-the-war-in-ukraine) the House Financial Services Committee that the FED will proceed with caution, “*Inflation is too high. We understand that. It’s going to take some time, but we’re going to get it back under control.*”. **However, Powell told the congressmen that the FED will proceed with caution, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine adds more uncertainty to the economic outlook.**\n\n> “The economics of these events are highly uncertain, So far, we’ve seen energy prices move up further and those increases will move through the economy and push up headline inflation, and also they’re going to weigh on spending.”\n\n**The actual future policy course is ambiguous — the Fed may postpone rate hikes as a global trade war heats up**. Former president of the Kansas City [Federal Reserve, Hoenig, expressed doubts of follow-through](https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/russia-ukraine-war-puts-fed-further-behind-inflation-curve-former-insider-warns) in an interview on Monday, saying the following:\n\n> “**If we go down this path and this economic war continues and unemployment starts to rise, then I think the Fed will hesitate [to continue to raise rates]. That’s been their pattern in the past for some time now** and **I think that will be a major challenge for them to try and balance the need to get this inflation**, ***which is almost four times higher than their target***, **under control while not also seeing the economy suffer large increases in unemployment**.”\n\nThe notorious “inflation hawk” also said that *“I think the Fed will attempt to get close to 1%[in rate-hikes] because even with all this going on, they know how far behind they are on the curve of inflation. They have to move this stuff up.*” adding that if,  “**the unemployment rate starts to rise in May or June, I think they will slow that down even more and that’s what gives me some pause,** but it’s something they have to deal with, something they brought on themselves because they are so far behind the curve. That’s the challenge they’ve got to weave themselves through.”\n\nIn the same interview, while the former regional Fed president thought the Fed would hesitate to raise rates as a result of the economic shocks from the conflict, he predicted that they’ll try to ultimately raise rates by 1%, when right now 0.25% is up in the air because it'll likely shock the economy too much and lead to a cascade reaction as the economy’s lube dries up, and contribute to the the unemployment he fears around the corner of potential rate hikes.\n\nOn Sunday, Reuters ran the headline, “[**Wall St Week Ahead Rate-hike fears abate but Ukraine muddies stock market outlook**](https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/wall-st-week-ahead-rate-hike-fears-abate-ukraine-muddies-stock-market-outlook-2022-03-06/)’. An excerpt reads: *“The see-saw moves come as investor hopes that the Fed may raise rates less severely than anticipated vied with worries about inflation and higher commodity prices, stoked by sanctions against Russia, one of the world’s biggest commodity exporters. Investors have virtually priced out the chances of a hefty 50 basis point rate hike in March.”*\n\nSeeing a pattern of negative indicators here? One can’t help but laugh at the juxtaposition of fears of higher commodity prices on Sunday, and the record breaking [price jump in nickel](https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/nickel-prices-russia-ukraine-production-shortage-ev-steel-commodities-invasion-2022-3) on Monday. At 55,000 it had increased 90% for the day — *the largest single-day jump in history*. Then, after American markets closed, it hit over 100,000 in Asian markets — a roughly 400% jump.\n\nAlright, **tying back to bitcoin**, which is trading sideways in anticipation for what the Fed actually does. Given that there was an expected rate hike in March for months, the market has undoubtedly “priced in” this expectation. If the Fed does stall on rate-hikes, Asset markets will get a boost as anticipated expectations are defied.\n\nBrad Neuman, director of market strategy at Alger, went [on record](https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/wall-st-week-ahead-rate-hike-fears-abate-ukraine-muddies-stock-market-outlook-2022-03-06/) to predict that ***“The Fed will be less aggressive now that Russia has invaded Ukraine in the near term, but the problem that the Fed faces has not been ameliorated,”** Neuman said. “In fact, it has been exacerbated.”*\n\nThis means that **the consequences of the inflation that the Fed(*ahem* created *ahem*) needs to combat has been compounded by supply shocks. This is manifesting in commodity prices already**, in Nickel’s case violently. Other metals are also [rising](https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2022/mar/08/nickel-soars-record-commodity-prices-oil-gas-russia-ukraine-ftse-dax-dow-business-live), such as tin zinc and copper. Aluminum — used in car bodywork — went to record highs last week. Palladium, used in catalytic converters, has increased 80% this year to record highs. Wheat prices are shooting through the roof, and obviously gas. Nickel likely rose so high relative to other commodities as a response to the skyrocketing gas prices- as nickel is a core ingredient in lithium ion batteries and other tech used by the EV industry. If this conflict does not end, it’s likely just the beginning as shocks ripple through the market.\n\n[Surmised by Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/wall-st-week-ahead-rate-hike-fears-abate-ukraine-muddies-stock-market-outlook-2022-03-06/) in their article on Sunday previous sourced, “*Investors next week will be watching data on U.S. inflation, due Thursday. **Consumer prices in January grew at their fastest pace in nearly four decades.**”* The article also stated that. “**Some investors have been wary of the rebound in stocks. The Wells Fargo Investment Institute is re-evaluating its asset price targets in the wake of the Ukraine turmoil, ‘but we don’t want to over-react when uncertainty is so high,*” said Sameer Samana, senior global market strategist at Wells.’* ”\n\nNote: As that quote references the stock market, it is worth pointing out that the turmoil in Ukraine is going to have differences in its mode of impact on various markets. While some companies may be severely hindered by, let’s say rising commodity prices they need to produce a finished product, something like Bitcoin is going to not be affected in that way. Infact, the rising price of oil and natural gas will likely positively impact bitcoin as miners will have to spend more for a given amount of hashpower, and will likely raise the prices they are willing to sell at/reduce the sell pressure as to reflect the change in the cost of operations.\n\n**To Recap: the chance of the Fed continuing to delay dealing with inflation is potentially bullish for all markets**, and if the upcoming monthly Fed meeting results in just that, markets will likely rise from stocks to crypto. Sometimes it’s sell the rumor, buy the news instead of buy the rumor sell the news. Jokes aside, the shifting macroeconomics of the world right now are extreme. We haven’t even discussed the extreme sanctions imposed on Russia, a completely separate factor to consider, and the primary subject of interest and the reason for this article.\n\n## Sanctions on Russia and Threats of Future Sanctions on its Trade Partners Strengthen the Use Case of Bitcoin Massively\nThe United States along with the EU imposed wide-sweeping sanctions on Russia, even cutting it off from the SWIFT international payment system, which caused the Ruble to [immediately plummet 30%](https://www.seattletimes.com/business/ruble-sinks-26-after-swift-sanctions-against-russian-banks/) the day of. This will change the world economic order massively, and as Ray Dalio might be quick to agree with, (likely the reason he released the documentary 4 days ago),a reflection of a changing world order. Forbes published an article titled [“**How Cutting Russia From SWIFT Will Change The Financial Landscape**”](https://www.forbes.com/sites/iese/2022/03/05/how-cutting-russia-from-swift-will--change-the-financial-landscape/?sh=600e5b707b3b), in which the following statement was published:\n\n> “***The move to ban Russia from SWIFT will likely hasten in a new era for global monetary flows**, one where the ability to use SWIFT to impose economic sanctions with severe consequences may be severely curtailed. **An era where at least Russia and China will have fully developed–and most probably interconnected–their own alternative systems.** In sum, an era where the idea of one secure, universal messaging system will no longer be viable.*\n\n> **A new era of competing global payment systems?”**\n\nSWIFT connects 11,000+ financial institutions in more than 200 different countries and territories. Roughly 40 million messages a day are sent through SWIFT, enabling the exchange of trillions of euros between companies and governments around the world. Forbes describes the importance and scope of the SWIFT system that enables modern commerce:\n\n> “Cutting a bank from SWIFT is like cutting a person off from the internet. While monetary flows would be possible in theory, without complementary information (where the money comes from, where it goes, what it is for) a bank would not be able to operate.**And, as we have seen with Russia this week, partially or entirely cutting a country’s banks off from SWIFT has [serious economic consequences.](https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/02/28/russian-central-bank-hikes-interest-rate-to-20-as-ruble-sinks-to-record-low/?sh=4892cd927a7e)**\n\n> **This is precisely why it is so important that banks around the world have access to a system that is agnostic, secure and one of which they are a part of no matter what**. And for more than four decades, this has largely been the case. **Since its initial creation in 1973 and later launch in 1977, SWIFT has held strong as the universal messaging system, ensuring safe, international transactions for any bank across globe.”**\n\nSo **Russia, and all of its trade partners are suddenly in large need of a “agnostic, secure” payment system, “one of which they are a part of no matter what”? Hmm. No one tell bitcoin.** ***Oh, what’s that?*** **This just in**(*seriously, this just broke last night before writing*), via Bloomberg, “[Biden to Sign Crypto Order as Firms Face Sanctions Pressure”](https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report/biden-to-sign-crypto-order-as-industry-faces-sanctions-pressure)\n\n> **“President Joe Biden is set to sign an executive order this week that will outline the U.S. government’s strategy for cryptocurrencies, according to people familiar with the administration’s plans.**\n\n> **The order will direct federal agencies to examine potential regulatory changes, as well as the national security and economic impact of digital assets**, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing the deliberations. The **White House’s approach to crypto has attracted fresh attention in recent weeks after the U.S. and its allies levied sanctions on Russia, prompting concerns that organizations and individuals could use crypto to evade the restrictions.”**\n\nHours before reports of Biden’s impending executive order, Russel Brand released a brilliant video yesterday in response to growing(as a response to Ukraine crisis) talk throughout the media of crypto-regulation.\n\n<iframe width=\"675\" height=\"390\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/V4VXWdWMLvA\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\n\n\nNaturally, cryptocurrencies are a way to circumnavigate sanctions, and many, from economists to government employees have been [wondering](http://could%20putin%20be%20exploring%20cryptocurrencies%20to%20bypass%20western%20sanctions/?) how large of a role they will play in Russia’s response, including that of its trade partners. Likely a significant one. Half the point of them, and the use-case that early adopters and advocators touted, is the idea of a “permissionless blockchain”, that is, an open network available to everyone to participate in the consensus process — fully decentralized.\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23wWyGrRnL3e1WA2p1acrYwpJyshXqTbRFiq6ztUCdQPLjDTgouHng9GXHy96QPsxhfAJ.png)\n\n**In an article from 6 days ago titled “[Federal Lawmakers Worry Russian Leaders Are Using Crypto To Avoid Sanction](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/sarahemerson/federal-lawmakers-worry-russian-leaders-are-using-crypto-to)”**, BuzzFeed reported on pressure applied to the crypto industry to sanction Russia:\n\n> So far, **the crypto industry has largely ignored or [condemned](https://twitter.com/jespow/status/1498112741684363265) calls to freeze Russian holdings. ​​Changpeng Zhao, founder of the world’s largest crypto exchange Binance, [told BBC Radio 4](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/mar/02/crypto-exchange-boss-changpeng-zhao-binance-resists-calls-for-ban-on-all-russia-transactions#:~:text=Crypto%20exchange%20boss%20resists%20calls%20for%20ban%20on%20all%20Russia%20transactions,-Changpeng%20Zhao,%20founder&text=It%20is%20not%20the%20place,be%20used%20to%20bypass%20sanctions.) that the company was “not in a position to sanction, like, populations of people,” and said Binance would only respond to requests regarding specific individuals.**\n\nWhat?!?! Binance won’t assist in siege warfare? They don’t believe in collectively punishing an entire country’s population for the actions of its government(which we declare is not a democracy and they don’t have control over)? Its not as if starving innocent civilians to death in sanctions that target them is essentially the same thing as blowing them up or killing them overtly, is it?! I mean sure, the consequences of general sanctions are predictable, but I mean, you don’t blame the owner of a gun for pulling the trigger in mass murder, right? You are supposed to blame the gun. At least that’s what the TV told me!\n\n> **Another large exchange, Coinbase, [told Motherboard](https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kbdqq/crypto-exchanges-refuse-to-freeze-all-russian-accounts) that it will not comply with Ukraine’s request in the interest of “economic freedom.”**\n\n**India, a growing economic superpower that shares many traits in Dalio’s model of an empire on the rise, is a neutral party relative to the US and Russia having decent relations with both and being major trade partners with both. However, just this week, the [Biden administration threatened the country with sanctions, for trading with Russia](https://thehill.com/policy/international/596693-biden-weighing-sanctions-on-india-over-russian-military-stockpiles) and for [abstaining in a UN vote regarding Ukraine](https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/biden-will-decide-on-sanctions-on-india-us-official-on-russian-s-400-deal-122030300447_1.html). A senior US diplomat was [quoted](https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/india-ukraine-sanction-biden-unga-b2027646.html) on record saying that the Biden administration hopes** ‘***India will find it’s now time to further distance itself’*** **from Russia.** Objectively, that is the US threatening India with economic warfare if it does not blindly obey like a dog to a master, and work against its valuable trade partner, or cut economic ties with it at Master Uncle Sam’s order. And this level + abuse of control the US seeks to impose on the rest of the world, is exactly why the world seeks, and arguably needs, a new world order.\n\nAccording to Ray Dalio’s model, which is drawn upon and reflective of reality, **the fall of the world’s primary empire, if that is what we are witnessing, is coinciding with the rise of a new world order**. As the fall of the world economic order ensues, a new economic world order will come about. The question is, what type of order is that? Will we see Russia and China work together, will they simply create a parallel system, near-identical in design to the foundation and logistics of SWIFT? Perhaps, to conduct transactions with fiat currencies. Or will they create a new version of what SWIFT was supposed to be, an open payment network for the world, but do it on the backbone of a public blockchain they design to decentralize the system? That may be reinventing the wheel(fiat-pegged assets exist on existing blockchains), but could happen for nuanced reasons.\n\nEven if Russia and China make their own version of SWIFT, keep it centralized, then crypto(namely bitcoin) will likely still begin to assume a role in international trade, especially if parties don’t want to be overtly associated with Russia or a blacklisted party as crypto will likely retain the advantage of privacy, not mention their permisionless nature from being decentralized, unless Russia and its trade network does utilize blockchain in its SWIFT alternative. \n\nThis isn’t to mention Bitcoin’s inherent superiority over fiat currency as a foreign reserve in regards to wealth retention and appreciation due its deflationary model in contrast to fiat’s perpetual inflationary model that always(always) ends in complete destruction of the currency through constant debasement. Privacy coins such as Monero and Zecash are something to strongly consider and watch particularly in the wake of sanctions.\n\n## New World Power, or a True New World Order?\nNow I keep using that phrase, “new world order”, That Ray Dalio uses to describe a new empire emerging from the fall of the old one. But I am not using it with the connotation of the infamous NWO, but rather to draw contrast to it. P**erhaps the actual new world order emerging will ultimately be the opposite of the agenda most people think of when they consider the infamous term, “New World Order”.**\n\nInfact, **one could extrapolate to view the cyclical pattern of the rise and fall of Empires**, as accurately observed/described by Dalio, **itself as an empire, or** rather, **order, unto itself to eventually fall on a macrocosm**. As Above, So Below. Being that the fall of empires nearly always end with debt crises, debasement/devaluation of an empires currency, and the diminishing role of its currency as a reserve currency, perhaps **one could argue that any empire seeking to steal the spotlight and take the old order’s place is doomed to fail by repeating a model that always ends in failure, as predicated by history.**\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23tS12h4b11vnKeVoYDbow4cZywwBH6hBFXbEwGCH3aeHbST9NAacnjFgsGtqv9NdJV8b.png)\n\nJust as markets have short term bull/bear cycles embedded within macrocycles that occur over longer timeframes, perhaps it’s not time for a new world order to take the stage of the US and repeat the entire cycle again, but rather perhaps it’s time for a new world order to begin to diverge from the cycle and follow a new model. **Perhaps this meta cycle can be seen as the rise, peak, and fall of centralization — as large scale decentralized systems, made possible by the recent technological boom of the last century, begin to replace and make obsolete the traditional systems of the past.**\n\n**The power in the world has quite clearly become more centralized than ever in history** given the rapid advancements in technology since world war 1 and 2, the increased level of control governments have gradually seized(from income tax creation in 1913, normalization of militarized surveillance police states capable mind-boggling levels of control, to countless other developments whose effects ultimately shape so much of our lives.\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23xeos1JDxfXa8nWZdAGaL4qn47pMipHjZqGBwfxqFnWugtFkZW97fdpNBf7SaVCAGLZo.png)\n\nJust as Ray Dalio describes the clashes that occur between declining empires/world orders and those on the rise that will replace the old, there can be interpreted a battle between the “New World Order” agenda, ultimately a highly centralized one world government, and a decentralized network of people and organizations seeking to (surprise) decentralize power, and reverse the trend towards centralization, even change the very root dynamics underpinning society.\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23swgMrefKp4yoEvcPWzgXDrdbKGP8UNPRwh3Q3zGZKpEBPc3fttUB4cXrv3v6RD6NAGd.png)\n\nJust as social media, decentralized information flow, has been threatening the “empire of lies” as Putin called it last week, crypto seeks to decentralize money flow and threaten the current economic system — which clearly works wonders and deserves to remain in place. Just as the world oligarchies have pushed back on social media by seeking to regulate it and re-centralize through censorship, fact checkers, algorithmic manipulation and control — governments seek to crack down on the crypto industry, they’ve had enough. Like social media, the paradigm of power and control that currently operates seeks to co-opt the industry, and transmutate the potential tool for decentralization into a form of control and surveillance. Fortunately for social media, blockchain is helping take that to the next level as well and make another push to towards decentralizing society with the rise of web 3.0 and permissionless blockchain based platforms.\n\nOn the social media note, this article will be posted on the Hive Blockchain, a Steemit fork originally centered around blogging and publishing, turned competitor to Ethereum with its own thriving ecosystem as it is smart contract capable in the same language with the same capabilities, more scalable, and highly cheap to use- data loads that costs thousands to send over Ethereum costs pennies for hive (and other, newer generation layer 1 blockchains.) I will also post about it on Somee.Social (a web 3.0 social media platform that offers easy-access and barrier of entry, one doesn’t have to use the blockchain components of it if one doesn't want to) along with utilizing Minds.com (another great blockchain utilizing social media platform).\n\nThere is a clear emerging trend of the decentralization of systems among Earth’s population as technology allows for it, its partially why social media blew up at the speed it did, decentralizing the flow of information, and this is illustrated by the rapid emergence and expansion of blockchain based ecosystems as well. These trends are evident of a deep-seated desire for change in how the systems of our society operate. If this new trend is to continue, we will see continued decentralization of traditionally centralized systems of society. Decentralized Autonomous Organizations, or DAO’s, are a glimpse at how governance of society can be revolutionized. Perhaps we should take note of these trends. Perhaps it is time for a new era of humanity.\n\n## To Digress and Summarize..\n**A.** **The Ukraine/Russia conflict has shifted the short and mid-term fundamentals of bitcoin in that the Federal Reserve will likely be less aggressive in contractionary policy now** *and possibly even hold off on it all together depending on how things play out.*\n\n**B.** **Sanctions and Swift System dissolution highly incentivize bitcoin and crypto usage by central banks and international traders**/importers/exporters **as a reserve currency**, for the short to long term.\n\n**C.** **The American Empire is likely in its death throes,** as it desperately seeks to retain dominance. **Maybe its time to hedge against US hegemony.**\n\n**D.** There might be a country that continues the micro-cycle described by Dalio that's been repeating since Rome, and takes control as the next superpower — as that would be history repeating itself(no surprise). Or a group of countries might follow through in attempting to create a one world government, what many people think of when confronted with the phrase “New World Order”. But I believe that humanity is at a cross roads as the entire fiat system that dominates the world, a system more centralized yet unstable than any before it, collapses. **We will either allow the world’s highly centralized governments to coalesce into a one world government**, the New World Order they desire, where they can force and coerce us to “own nothing and be happy”, live in the pods, eat the bugs…**or humanity can **and will **rise up through decentralized, voluntary organization** to reclaim its power from those elite and institutions that seek to control and dominate the masses without their consent.\n\n**E.** Regardless of one’s opinion on my extrapolation of Ray Dalio’s model onto a macrocosm of human history, **it should be clear that Bitcoin could and very likely will play a large role in the chaotic disruptions of the world’s economic paradigm.**\n\n### **F.(uck tyranny). The revolution might not be televised, but part of it might be tokenized.**\n\n*UPDATE: 3/9/2022:* Yesterday, the day of this article’s publication, following its release, privacy coins skyrocketed 20+%, largely outperforming the market. This indicates/further validates that sanctions + additional regulation (Biden’s impending executive order) are indeed bullish for crypto — and privacy coins will likely play a role according to market speculators(or state-actor insiders buying up in preparation)",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"china\",\"dollar\",\"bitcoin\",\"ukraine\",\"economics\",\"fed\",\"news\"],\"image\":[\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/Eo8ZVfHUgYwx3mm3dF2HhDf3oEvefpXEeGrBMKTgADXxLs8i35S76sEPaBSutUdUToy.png\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23u5vfKsnFKYEpMUjiPacMMAZYj7jnyBcaw9TBTQT9LHPMfbAnJRqY57Lif6i8pLYGFbZ.png\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23swgMrefKp4yoEvcPWzgXDrdbKGP8UNPRwh3Q3zGZKpEBPc3fttUB4cXrv3v6RD6NAGd.png\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23wCdah6DsC9ojc9kLENhLKDyF5ocgnRcoGg1rJrpQ2ha3heiKgedvFGnx41QHAqp3pTu.png\",\"https://img.youtube.com/vi/V4VXWdWMLvA/0.jpg\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23wWyGrRnL3e1WA2p1acrYwpJyshXqTbRFiq6ztUCdQPLjDTgouHng9GXHy96QPsxhfAJ.png\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23tS12h4b11vnKeVoYDbow4cZywwBH6hBFXbEwGCH3aeHbST9NAacnjFgsGtqv9NdJV8b.png\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23xeos1JDxfXa8nWZdAGaL4qn47pMipHjZqGBwfxqFnWugtFkZW97fdpNBf7SaVCAGLZo.png\"],\"links\":[\"https://www.reuters.com/business/fed-raise-rates-three-times-this-year-tame-unruly-inflation-2022-01-20/\",\"https://www.kaaltv.com/national-news/fed-to-signal-rate-hike-as-it-launches-risky-inflation-fight/6367982/\",\"https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/26/fed-decision-january-2022-.html\",\"https://www.barrons.com/articles/white-house-executive-action-regulate-cryptos-national-security-51643312454\",\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xguam0TKMw8&t=831s\",\"https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/2022-03-02/the-federal-reserve-is-ready-to-raise-interest-rates-soon-despite-the-war-in-ukraine\",\"https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/russia-ukraine-war-puts-fed-further-behind-inflation-curve-former-insider-warns\",\"https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/wall-st-week-ahead-rate-hike-fears-abate-ukraine-muddies-stock-market-outlook-2022-03-06/\",\"https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/nickel-prices-russia-ukraine-production-shortage-ev-steel-commodities-invasion-2022-3\",\"https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2022/mar/08/nickel-soars-record-commodity-prices-oil-gas-russia-ukraine-ftse-dax-dow-business-live\",\"https://www.seattletimes.com/business/ruble-sinks-26-after-swift-sanctions-against-russian-banks/\",\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/iese/2022/03/05/how-cutting-russia-from-swift-will--change-the-financial-landscape/?sh=600e5b707b3b\",\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/02/28/russian-central-bank-hikes-interest-rate-to-20-as-ruble-sinks-to-record-low/?sh=4892cd927a7e\",\"https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report/biden-to-sign-crypto-order-as-industry-faces-sanctions-pressure\",\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/V4VXWdWMLvA\",\"http://could%20putin%20be%20exploring%20cryptocurrencies%20to%20bypass%20western%20sanctions/?\",\"https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/sarahemerson/federal-lawmakers-worry-russian-leaders-are-using-crypto-to\",\"https://twitter.com/jespow/status/1498112741684363265\",\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/mar/02/crypto-exchange-boss-changpeng-zhao-binance-resists-calls-for-ban-on-all-russia-transactions#:~:text=Crypto%20exchange%20boss%20resists%20calls%20for%20ban%20on%20all%20Russia%20transactions,-Changpeng%20Zhao,%20founder&text=It%20is%20not%20the%20place,be%20used%20to%20bypass%20sanctions.\",\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kbdqq/crypto-exchanges-refuse-to-freeze-all-russian-accounts\",\"https://thehill.com/policy/international/596693-biden-weighing-sanctions-on-india-over-russian-military-stockpiles\",\"https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/biden-will-decide-on-sanctions-on-india-us-official-on-russian-s-400-deal-122030300447_1.html\",\"https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/india-ukraine-sanction-biden-unga-b2027646.html\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "220b4deacd772c51dcffafa7c5a67853aa2058e3",
  "block": 62556750,
  "trx_in_block": 3,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2022-03-19T12:13:48",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "russia",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "ukraine-crisis-triggered-a-massive-shift-in-fundamentals-for-bitcoin",
      "title": "Ukraine Crisis Triggered a Massive Shift in Fundamentals for Bitcoin",
      "body": "# **While Geopolitical Relations Crumble, Bitcoin’s Fundamentals Grow**\n\n## **Macroeconomic Trend Leading Up To The Invasion of Ukraine**\nIn January, rumors and [speculation](https://www.reuters.com/business/fed-raise-rates-three-times-this-year-tame-unruly-inflation-2022-01-20/) of upcoming interest rate hikes and the tapering of bond purchases by the Federal Reserve stirred the markets. The crypto markets along with the rest of the markets turned bearish, as this would mark the first time in three years the FED raised rates, after the largest period of spending in history. A reversal in the Federal Reserve’s policy, from expansionary to contractionary, would see liquidity drained from markets, risk mitigation, and asset sell-offs in juxtaposition with servicing of debt.\n\nAhead of the Federal Reserve’s monthly meeting on Jan. 26th, Roberto Perli, chief economist at Cornerstone Macro and former Fed staffer [said](https://www.kaaltv.com/national-news/fed-to-signal-rate-hike-as-it-launches-risky-inflation-fight/6367982/) regarding rate-hikes that “The consensus is that the time has come to move, The debate is over how fast”. By the time the [Fed meeting rolled around on Jan.26th](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/26/fed-decision-january-2022-.html) , and board members first confirmed the possibility of interest rate hikes in March, bitcoin had already broken 40k support and formed a new relative low as it descended from the all time high.\n\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/Eo8ZVfHUgYwx3mm3dF2HhDf3oEvefpXEeGrBMKTgADXxLs8i35S76sEPaBSutUdUToy.png)\n\n\nThe subsequent day after the 26th, [leaks emerged from the White House](https://www.barrons.com/articles/white-house-executive-action-regulate-cryptos-national-security-51643312454)**Bold** reporting that, ***“The Biden administration is preparing to release an executive action that will task federal agencies with regulating digital assets such as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a matter of national security”.***\n\nInteresting. A**s inflation was nearing an alarming level that even printer-happy economists were uncomfortable with, suddenly the government saw decentralized, deflationary currency as a “national security risk”.**\n## Crypto, National Security Threat?\n\nMaybe there is some truth in that, if your view of national security is clinging to an empire’s outdated method of control and refusing to address the problems inherent to your monetary system that you impose on the rest of the world.\n\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23u5vfKsnFKYEpMUjiPacMMAZYj7jnyBcaw9TBTQT9LHPMfbAnJRqY57Lif6i8pLYGFbZ.png)\n\nOne could easily argue that Crypto’s success is a symptom of the national security threat of irresponsible and reckless spending/printing, let alone the very structure of the system the Fed operates within, or more appropriately, is in charge of. Has anybody considered by now... maybe Ron Paul was right? Maybe the Fed isn't, and never was in the best interest of the nation’s population. Perhaps that's why the founding fathers had so many various quotes warning of such an institution.\n\n**Billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio recently released a [short documentary](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xguam0TKMw8&t=831s) based on his recent book titled**, *“The Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail”.* In his documentary, **Dalio paints the strength of a country’s currency, as a reserve currency used by foreign parties in international trade, as the final building block of an empire, and a key measure of an Empire’s strength.** This shouldn’t surprise anybody who understands the role that reserve currency status has for a nation in international trade, and the power that comes with such an advantage. In the video, he states the following:\n\n> “So how am I measuring an empire’s power? In this study I used eight metrics. Each country’s measure of total power is derived by averaging them together. They are education, inventiveness and technology development, competitiveness in global markets, economic output, share of world trade, military strength, the power of their financial center for capital markets, and the strength of their currency as a reserve currency. Because these powers are measurable we can see how strong each country is now was in the past and whether they’re rising or declining by examining the sequences from many countries we can see how a typical cycle transpires.\n\n> **We can simplify it a bit to focus on the pattern of cause-effect relationships that drive the rise and decline of a typical empire as you can see better education typically leads to increased innovation and technology development and with a lag,** **[ultimately] **the establishment of the currency as a reserve currency**.”\n\nHe describes a lag relative to the other factors that a currency’s reserve strength interplays with. By lag, the phenomenon can be compared to the light from a star giving delayed information, and just as if something changes in a star’s hemisphere and it takes time to detect that due to the speed of light, it takes time for reserve currency to reflect the macrocosmic changes of an Empire’s structural integrity. Critical as is the light that sheds information on a star, the declining respect for the US dollar as a reserve currency sheds light on the state of the empire — and it’s getting weaker. In his model, his observes that the repetitive pattern of the rise and fall of empires typically has a collision point, compromised of domestic revolutions and foreign wars as a given empire begins to parabolically decline.\n\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23swgMrefKp4yoEvcPWzgXDrdbKGP8UNPRwh3Q3zGZKpEBPc3fttUB4cXrv3v6RD6NAGd.png)\n\n## Bitcoin’s Reaction to the Invasion\nSpeaking of revolutions and wars, and tying back to this article’s focal point, since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24th, Bitcoin has continued to trade within the channel between 45k and 35k. In fact, the day of the invasion, there was a massive amount of buy volume that exceeded the sell volume of the 21st.\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23wCdah6DsC9ojc9kLENhLKDyF5ocgnRcoGg1rJrpQ2ha3heiKgedvFGnx41QHAqp3pTu.png)\n\nFrom a technical analysis perspective, arguments can be made for both the bearish and bullish side, depending on what time frame one looks at, and what indicators one prioritizes. But this is crypto, and chart movements counter-intuitive to TA happen all the time, whether from market manipulation, or a shift in fundamentals. Technicals matter, but Fundamentals rule. Today we are talking about the latter.\n## Implications of the Conflict on Federal Reserve Policy\nSo how has Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shifted the fundamentals of the general market? The day of Russia’s invasion, Goldman Sachs released a statement in which they stated the following:\n> “The combination of upside inflation risk and downside growth risk has mixed implications for monetary policy. **Historically, Fed officials have sometimes preferred to delay major policy decisions until uncertainty surrounding geopolitical risks diminished.** In some cases, such as after September 11 or during the US-China trade war, the FOMC has cut the funds rate.\n\n> *The current situation is different from past episodes when geopolitical events led the Fed to delay tightening or ease because inflation risk has created a stronger and more urgent reason for the Fed to tighten today than existed in past episodes*”\n\nIn essence, Goldman is saying that usually during times of geopolitical turmoil, the Federal Reserve doesn’t make major policy changes, but this situation is particularly bad. Early talks of a .50% rate hike diminished into talks of a 25 point hike. This week Federal Reserve chair [Powell told](https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/2022-03-02/the-federal-reserve-is-ready-to-raise-interest-rates-soon-despite-the-war-in-ukraine) the House Financial Services Committee that the FED will proceed with caution, “*Inflation is too high. We understand that. It’s going to take some time, but we’re going to get it back under control.*”. **However, Powell told the congressmen that the FED will proceed with caution, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine adds more uncertainty to the economic outlook.**\n\n> “The economics of these events are highly uncertain, So far, we’ve seen energy prices move up further and those increases will move through the economy and push up headline inflation, and also they’re going to weigh on spending.”\n\n**The actual future policy course is ambiguous — the Fed may postpone rate hikes as a global trade war heats up**. Former president of the Kansas City [Federal Reserve, Hoenig, expressed doubts of follow-through](https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/russia-ukraine-war-puts-fed-further-behind-inflation-curve-former-insider-warns) in an interview on Monday, saying the following:\n\n> “**If we go down this path and this economic war continues and unemployment starts to rise, then I think the Fed will hesitate [to continue to raise rates]. That’s been their pattern in the past for some time now** and **I think that will be a major challenge for them to try and balance the need to get this inflation**, ***which is almost four times higher than their target***, **under control while not also seeing the economy suffer large increases in unemployment**.”\n\nThe notorious “inflation hawk” also said that *“I think the Fed will attempt to get close to 1%[in rate-hikes] because even with all this going on, they know how far behind they are on the curve of inflation. They have to move this stuff up.*” adding that if,  “**the unemployment rate starts to rise in May or June, I think they will slow that down even more and that’s what gives me some pause,** but it’s something they have to deal with, something they brought on themselves because they are so far behind the curve. That’s the challenge they’ve got to weave themselves through.”\n\nIn the same interview, while the former regional Fed president thought the Fed would hesitate to raise rates as a result of the economic shocks from the conflict, he predicted that they’ll try to ultimately raise rates by 1%, when right now 0.25% is up in the air because it'll likely shock the economy too much and lead to a cascade reaction as the economy’s lube dries up, and contribute to the the unemployment he fears around the corner of potential rate hikes.\n\nOn Sunday, Reuters ran the headline, “[**Wall St Week Ahead Rate-hike fears abate but Ukraine muddies stock market outlook**](https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/wall-st-week-ahead-rate-hike-fears-abate-ukraine-muddies-stock-market-outlook-2022-03-06/)’. An excerpt reads: *“The see-saw moves come as investor hopes that the Fed may raise rates less severely than anticipated vied with worries about inflation and higher commodity prices, stoked by sanctions against Russia, one of the world’s biggest commodity exporters. Investors have virtually priced out the chances of a hefty 50 basis point rate hike in March.”*\n\nSeeing a pattern of negative indicators here? One can’t help but laugh at the juxtaposition of fears of higher commodity prices on Sunday, and the record breaking [price jump in nickel](https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/nickel-prices-russia-ukraine-production-shortage-ev-steel-commodities-invasion-2022-3) on Monday. At 55,000 it had increased 90% for the day — *the largest single-day jump in history*. Then, after American markets closed, it hit over 100,000 in Asian markets — a roughly 400% jump.\n\nAlright, **tying back to bitcoin**, which is trading sideways in anticipation for what the Fed actually does. Given that there was an expected rate hike in March for months, the market has undoubtedly “priced in” this expectation. If the Fed does stall on rate-hikes, Asset markets will get a boost as anticipated expectations are defied.\n\nBrad Neuman, director of market strategy at Alger, went [on record](https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/wall-st-week-ahead-rate-hike-fears-abate-ukraine-muddies-stock-market-outlook-2022-03-06/) to predict that ***“The Fed will be less aggressive now that Russia has invaded Ukraine in the near term, but the problem that the Fed faces has not been ameliorated,”** Neuman said. “In fact, it has been exacerbated.”*\n\nThis means that **the consequences of the inflation that the Fed(*ahem* created *ahem*) needs to combat has been compounded by supply shocks. This is manifesting in commodity prices already**, in Nickel’s case violently. Other metals are also [rising](https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2022/mar/08/nickel-soars-record-commodity-prices-oil-gas-russia-ukraine-ftse-dax-dow-business-live), such as tin zinc and copper. Aluminum — used in car bodywork — went to record highs last week. Palladium, used in catalytic converters, has increased 80% this year to record highs. Wheat prices are shooting through the roof, and obviously gas. Nickel likely rose so high relative to other commodities as a response to the skyrocketing gas prices- as nickel is a core ingredient in lithium ion batteries and other tech used by the EV industry. If this conflict does not end, it’s likely just the beginning as shocks ripple through the market.\n\n[Surmised by Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/wall-st-week-ahead-rate-hike-fears-abate-ukraine-muddies-stock-market-outlook-2022-03-06/) in their article on Sunday previous sourced, “*Investors next week will be watching data on U.S. inflation, due Thursday. **Consumer prices in January grew at their fastest pace in nearly four decades.**”* The article also stated that. “**Some investors have been wary of the rebound in stocks. The Wells Fargo Investment Institute is re-evaluating its asset price targets in the wake of the Ukraine turmoil, ‘but we don’t want to over-react when uncertainty is so high,*” said Sameer Samana, senior global market strategist at Wells.’* ”\n\nNote: As that quote references the stock market, it is worth pointing out that the turmoil in Ukraine is going to have differences in its mode of impact on various markets. While some companies may be severely hindered by, let’s say rising commodity prices they need to produce a finished product, something like Bitcoin is going to not be affected in that way. Infact, the rising price of oil and natural gas will likely positively impact bitcoin as miners will have to spend more for a given amount of hashpower, and will likely raise the prices they are willing to sell at/reduce the sell pressure as to reflect the change in the cost of operations.\n\n**To Recap: the chance of the Fed continuing to delay dealing with inflation is potentially bullish for all markets**, and if the upcoming monthly Fed meeting results in just that, markets will likely rise from stocks to crypto. Sometimes it’s sell the rumor, buy the news instead of buy the rumor sell the news. Jokes aside, the shifting macroeconomics of the world right now are extreme. We haven’t even discussed the extreme sanctions imposed on Russia, a completely separate factor to consider, and the primary subject of interest and the reason for this article.\n\n## Sanctions on Russia and Threats of Future Sanctions on its Trade Partners Strengthen the Use Case of Bitcoin Massively\nThe United States along with the EU imposed wide-sweeping sanctions on Russia, even cutting it off from the SWIFT international payment system, which caused the Ruble to [immediately plummet 30%](https://www.seattletimes.com/business/ruble-sinks-26-after-swift-sanctions-against-russian-banks/) the day of. This will change the world economic order massively, and as Ray Dalio might be quick to agree with, (likely the reason he released the documentary 4 days ago),a reflection of a changing world order. Forbes published an article titled [“**How Cutting Russia From SWIFT Will Change The Financial Landscape**”](https://www.forbes.com/sites/iese/2022/03/05/how-cutting-russia-from-swift-will--change-the-financial-landscape/?sh=600e5b707b3b), in which the following statement was published:\n\n> “***The move to ban Russia from SWIFT will likely hasten in a new era for global monetary flows**, one where the ability to use SWIFT to impose economic sanctions with severe consequences may be severely curtailed. **An era where at least Russia and China will have fully developed–and most probably interconnected–their own alternative systems.** In sum, an era where the idea of one secure, universal messaging system will no longer be viable.*\n\n> **A new era of competing global payment systems?”**\n\nSWIFT connects 11,000+ financial institutions in more than 200 different countries and territories. Roughly 40 million messages a day are sent through SWIFT, enabling the exchange of trillions of euros between companies and governments around the world. Forbes describes the importance and scope of the SWIFT system that enables modern commerce:\n\n> “Cutting a bank from SWIFT is like cutting a person off from the internet. While monetary flows would be possible in theory, without complementary information (where the money comes from, where it goes, what it is for) a bank would not be able to operate.**And, as we have seen with Russia this week, partially or entirely cutting a country’s banks off from SWIFT has [serious economic consequences.](https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/02/28/russian-central-bank-hikes-interest-rate-to-20-as-ruble-sinks-to-record-low/?sh=4892cd927a7e)**\n\n> **This is precisely why it is so important that banks around the world have access to a system that is agnostic, secure and one of which they are a part of no matter what**. And for more than four decades, this has largely been the case. **Since its initial creation in 1973 and later launch in 1977, SWIFT has held strong as the universal messaging system, ensuring safe, international transactions for any bank across globe.”**\n\nSo **Russia, and all of its trade partners are suddenly in large need of a “agnostic, secure” payment system, “one of which they are a part of no matter what”? Hmm. No one tell bitcoin.** ***Oh, what’s that?*** **This just in**(*seriously, this just broke last night before writing*), via Bloomberg, “[Biden to Sign Crypto Order as Firms Face Sanctions Pressure”](https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report/biden-to-sign-crypto-order-as-industry-faces-sanctions-pressure)\n\n> **“President Joe Biden is set to sign an executive order this week that will outline the U.S. government’s strategy for cryptocurrencies, according to people familiar with the administration’s plans.**\n\n> **The order will direct federal agencies to examine potential regulatory changes, as well as the national security and economic impact of digital assets**, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing the deliberations. The **White House’s approach to crypto has attracted fresh attention in recent weeks after the U.S. and its allies levied sanctions on Russia, prompting concerns that organizations and individuals could use crypto to evade the restrictions.”**\n\nHours before reports of Biden’s impending executive order, Russel Brand released a brilliant video yesterday in response to growing(as a response to Ukraine crisis) talk throughout the media of crypto-regulation.\n\n<iframe width=\"675\" height=\"390\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/V4VXWdWMLvA\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\n\n\nNaturally, cryptocurrencies are a way to circumnavigate sanctions, and many, from economists to government employees have been [wondering](http://could%20putin%20be%20exploring%20cryptocurrencies%20to%20bypass%20western%20sanctions/?) how large of a role they will play in Russia’s response, including that of its trade partners. Likely a significant one. Half the point of them, and the use-case that early adopters and advocators touted, is the idea of a “permissionless blockchain”, that is, an open network available to everyone to participate in the consensus process — fully decentralized.\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23wWyGrRnL3e1WA2p1acrYwpJyshXqTbRFiq6ztUCdQPLjDTgouHng9GXHy96QPsxhfAJ.png)\n\n**In an article from 6 days ago titled “[Federal Lawmakers Worry Russian Leaders Are Using Crypto To Avoid Sanction](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/sarahemerson/federal-lawmakers-worry-russian-leaders-are-using-crypto-to)”**, BuzzFeed reported on pressure applied to the crypto industry to sanction Russia:\n\n> So far, **the crypto industry has largely ignored or [condemned](https://twitter.com/jespow/status/1498112741684363265) calls to freeze Russian holdings. ​​Changpeng Zhao, founder of the world’s largest crypto exchange Binance, [told BBC Radio 4](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/mar/02/crypto-exchange-boss-changpeng-zhao-binance-resists-calls-for-ban-on-all-russia-transactions#:~:text=Crypto%20exchange%20boss%20resists%20calls%20for%20ban%20on%20all%20Russia%20transactions,-Changpeng%20Zhao,%20founder&text=It%20is%20not%20the%20place,be%20used%20to%20bypass%20sanctions.) that the company was “not in a position to sanction, like, populations of people,” and said Binance would only respond to requests regarding specific individuals.**\n\nWhat?!?! Binance won’t assist in siege warfare? They don’t believe in collectively punishing an entire country’s population for the actions of its government(which we declare is not a democracy and they don’t have control over)? Its not as if starving innocent civilians to death in sanctions that target them is essentially the same thing as blowing them up or killing them overtly, is it?! I mean sure, the consequences of general sanctions are predictable, but I mean, you don’t blame the owner of a gun for pulling the trigger in mass murder, right? You are supposed to blame the gun. At least that’s what the TV told me!\n\n> **Another large exchange, Coinbase, [told Motherboard](https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kbdqq/crypto-exchanges-refuse-to-freeze-all-russian-accounts) that it will not comply with Ukraine’s request in the interest of “economic freedom.”**\n\n**India, a growing economic superpower that shares many traits in Dalio’s model of an empire on the rise, is a neutral party relative to the US and Russia having decent relations with both and being major trade partners with both. However, just this week, the [Biden administration threatened the country with sanctions, for trading with Russia](https://thehill.com/policy/international/596693-biden-weighing-sanctions-on-india-over-russian-military-stockpiles) and for [abstaining in a UN vote regarding Ukraine](https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/biden-will-decide-on-sanctions-on-india-us-official-on-russian-s-400-deal-122030300447_1.html). A senior US diplomat was [quoted](https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/india-ukraine-sanction-biden-unga-b2027646.html) on record saying that the Biden administration hopes** ‘***India will find it’s now time to further distance itself’*** **from Russia.** Objectively, that is the US threatening India with economic warfare if it does not blindly obey like a dog to a master, and work against its valuable trade partner, or cut economic ties with it at Master Uncle Sam’s order. And this level + abuse of control the US seeks to impose on the rest of the world, is exactly why the world seeks, and arguably needs, a new world order.\n\nAccording to Ray Dalio’s model, which is drawn upon and reflective of reality, **the fall of the world’s primary empire, if that is what we are witnessing, is coinciding with the rise of a new world order**. As the fall of the world economic order ensues, a new economic world order will come about. The question is, what type of order is that? Will we see Russia and China work together, will they simply create a parallel system, near-identical in design to the foundation and logistics of SWIFT? Perhaps, to conduct transactions with fiat currencies. Or will they create a new version of what SWIFT was supposed to be, an open payment network for the world, but do it on the backbone of a public blockchain they design to decentralize the system? That may be reinventing the wheel(fiat-pegged assets exist on existing blockchains), but could happen for nuanced reasons.\n\nEven if Russia and China make their own version of SWIFT, keep it centralized, then crypto(namely bitcoin) will likely still begin to assume a role in international trade, especially if parties don’t want to be overtly associated with Russia or a blacklisted party as crypto will likely retain the advantage of privacy, not mention their permisionless nature from being decentralized, unless Russia and its trade network does utilize blockchain in its SWIFT alternative. \n\nThis isn’t to mention Bitcoin’s inherent superiority over fiat currency as a foreign reserve in regards to wealth retention and appreciation due its deflationary model in contrast to fiat’s perpetual inflationary model that always(always) ends in complete destruction of the currency through constant debasement. Privacy coins such as Monero and Zecash are something to strongly consider and watch particularly in the wake of sanctions.\n\n## New World Power, or a True New World Order?\nNow I keep using that phrase, “new world order”, That Ray Dalio uses to describe a new empire emerging from the fall of the old one. But I am not using it with the connotation of the infamous NWO, but rather to draw contrast to it. P**erhaps the actual new world order emerging will ultimately be the opposite of the agenda most people think of when they consider the infamous term, “New World Order”.**\n\nInfact, **one could extrapolate to view the cyclical pattern of the rise and fall of Empires**, as accurately observed/described by Dalio, **itself as an empire, or** rather, **order, unto itself to eventually fall on a macrocosm**. As Above, So Below. Being that the fall of empires nearly always end with debt crises, debasement/devaluation of an empires currency, and the diminishing role of its currency as a reserve currency, perhaps **one could argue that any empire seeking to steal the spotlight and take the old order’s place is doomed to fail by repeating a model that always ends in failure, as predicated by history.**\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23tS12h4b11vnKeVoYDbow4cZywwBH6hBFXbEwGCH3aeHbST9NAacnjFgsGtqv9NdJV8b.png)\n\nJust as markets have short term bull/bear cycles embedded within macrocycles that occur over longer timeframes, perhaps it’s not time for a new world order to take the stage of the US and repeat the entire cycle again, but rather perhaps it’s time for a new world order to begin to diverge from the cycle and follow a new model. **Perhaps this meta cycle can be seen as the rise, peak, and fall of centralization — as large scale decentralized systems, made possible by the recent technological boom of the last century, begin to replace and make obsolete the traditional systems of the past.**\n\n**The power in the world has quite clearly become more centralized than ever in history** given the rapid advancements in technology since world war 1 and 2, the increased level of control governments have gradually seized(from income tax creation in 1913, normalization of militarized surveillance police states capable mind-boggling levels of control, to countless other developments whose effects ultimately shape so much of our lives.\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23xeos1JDxfXa8nWZdAGaL4qn47pMipHjZqGBwfxqFnWugtFkZW97fdpNBf7SaVCAGLZo.png)\n\nJust as Ray Dalio describes the clashes that occur between declining empires/world orders and those on the rise that will replace the old, there can be interpreted a battle between the “New World Order” agenda, ultimately a highly centralized one world government, and a decentralized network of people and organizations seeking to (surprise) decentralize power, and reverse the trend towards centralization, even change the very root dynamics underpinning society.\n\n![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23swgMrefKp4yoEvcPWzgXDrdbKGP8UNPRwh3Q3zGZKpEBPc3fttUB4cXrv3v6RD6NAGd.png)\n\nJust as social media, decentralized information flow, has been threatening the “empire of lies” as Putin called it last week, crypto seeks to decentralize money flow and threaten the current economic system — which clearly works wonders and deserves to remain in place. Just as the world oligarchies have pushed back on social media by seeking to regulate it and re-centralize through censorship, fact checkers, algorithmic manipulation and control — governments seek to crack down on the crypto industry, they’ve had enough. Like social media, the paradigm of power and control that currently operates seeks to co-opt the industry, and transmutate the potential tool for decentralization into a form of control and surveillance. Fortunately for social media, blockchain is helping take that to the next level as well and make another push to towards decentralizing society with the rise of web 3.0 and permissionless blockchain based platforms.\n\nOn the social media note, this article will be posted on the Hive Blockchain, a Steemit fork originally centered around blogging and publishing, turned competitor to Ethereum with its own thriving ecosystem as it is smart contract capable in the same language with the same capabilities, more scalable, and highly cheap to use- data loads that costs thousands to send over Ethereum costs pennies for hive (and other, newer generation layer 1 blockchains.) I will also post about it on Somee.Social (a web 3.0 social media platform that offers easy-access and barrier of entry, one doesn’t have to use the blockchain components of it if one doesn't want to) along with utilizing Minds.com (another great blockchain utilizing social media platform).\n\nThere is a clear emerging trend of the decentralization of systems among Earth’s population as technology allows for it, its partially why social media blew up at the speed it did, decentralizing the flow of information, and this is illustrated by the rapid emergence and expansion of blockchain based ecosystems as well. These trends are evident of a deep-seated desire for change in how the systems of our society operate. If this new trend is to continue, we will see continued decentralization of traditionally centralized systems of society. Decentralized Autonomous Organizations, or DAO’s, are a glimpse at how governance of society can be revolutionized. Perhaps we should take note of these trends. Perhaps it is time for a new era of humanity.\n\n## To Digress and Summarize..\n**A.** **The Ukraine/Russia conflict has shifted the short and mid-term fundamentals of bitcoin in that the Federal Reserve will likely be less aggressive in contractionary policy now** *and possibly even hold off on it all together depending on how things play out.*\n\n**B.** **Sanctions and Swift System dissolution highly incentivize bitcoin and crypto usage by central banks and international traders**/importers/exporters **as a reserve currency**, for the short to long term.\n\n**C.** **The American Empire is likely in its death throes,** as it desperately seeks to retain dominance. **Maybe its time to hedge against US hegemony.**\n\n**D.** There might be a country that continues the micro-cycle described by Dalio that's been repeating since Rome, and takes control as the next superpower — as that would be history repeating itself(no surprise). Or a group of countries might follow through in attempting to create a one world government, what many people think of when confronted with the phrase “New World Order”. But I believe that humanity is at a cross roads as the entire fiat system that dominates the world, a system more centralized yet unstable than any before it, collapses. **We will either allow the world’s highly centralized governments to coalesce into a one world government**, the New World Order they desire, where they can force and coerce us to “own nothing and be happy”, live in the pods, eat the bugs…**or humanity can **and will **rise up through decentralized, voluntary organization** to reclaim its power from those elite and institutions that seek to control and dominate the masses without their consent.\n\n**E.** Regardless of one’s opinion on my extrapolation of Ray Dalio’s model onto a macrocosm of human history, **it should be clear that Bitcoin could and very likely will play a large role in the chaotic disruptions of the world’s economic paradigm.**\n\n### **F.(uck tyranny). The revolution might not be televised, but part of it might be tokenized.**\n\n*UPDATE: 3/9/2022:* Yesterday, the day of this article’s publication, following its release, privacy coins skyrocketed 20+%, largely outperforming the market. This indicates/further validates that sanctions + additional regulation (Biden’s impending executive order) are indeed bullish for crypto — and privacy coins will likely play a role according to market speculators(or state-actor insiders buying up in preparation)",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"russia\"],\"image\":[\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/Eo8ZVfHUgYwx3mm3dF2HhDf3oEvefpXEeGrBMKTgADXxLs8i35S76sEPaBSutUdUToy.png\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23u5vfKsnFKYEpMUjiPacMMAZYj7jnyBcaw9TBTQT9LHPMfbAnJRqY57Lif6i8pLYGFbZ.png\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23swgMrefKp4yoEvcPWzgXDrdbKGP8UNPRwh3Q3zGZKpEBPc3fttUB4cXrv3v6RD6NAGd.png\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23wCdah6DsC9ojc9kLENhLKDyF5ocgnRcoGg1rJrpQ2ha3heiKgedvFGnx41QHAqp3pTu.png\",\"https://img.youtube.com/vi/V4VXWdWMLvA/0.jpg\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23wWyGrRnL3e1WA2p1acrYwpJyshXqTbRFiq6ztUCdQPLjDTgouHng9GXHy96QPsxhfAJ.png\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23tS12h4b11vnKeVoYDbow4cZywwBH6hBFXbEwGCH3aeHbST9NAacnjFgsGtqv9NdJV8b.png\",\"https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/themcgwire/23xeos1JDxfXa8nWZdAGaL4qn47pMipHjZqGBwfxqFnWugtFkZW97fdpNBf7SaVCAGLZo.png\"],\"links\":[\"https://www.reuters.com/business/fed-raise-rates-three-times-this-year-tame-unruly-inflation-2022-01-20/\",\"https://www.kaaltv.com/national-news/fed-to-signal-rate-hike-as-it-launches-risky-inflation-fight/6367982/\",\"https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/26/fed-decision-january-2022-.html\",\"https://www.barrons.com/articles/white-house-executive-action-regulate-cryptos-national-security-51643312454\",\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xguam0TKMw8&t=831s\",\"https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/2022-03-02/the-federal-reserve-is-ready-to-raise-interest-rates-soon-despite-the-war-in-ukraine\",\"https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/russia-ukraine-war-puts-fed-further-behind-inflation-curve-former-insider-warns\",\"https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/wall-st-week-ahead-rate-hike-fears-abate-ukraine-muddies-stock-market-outlook-2022-03-06/\",\"https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/nickel-prices-russia-ukraine-production-shortage-ev-steel-commodities-invasion-2022-3\",\"https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2022/mar/08/nickel-soars-record-commodity-prices-oil-gas-russia-ukraine-ftse-dax-dow-business-live\",\"https://www.seattletimes.com/business/ruble-sinks-26-after-swift-sanctions-against-russian-banks/\",\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/iese/2022/03/05/how-cutting-russia-from-swift-will--change-the-financial-landscape/?sh=600e5b707b3b\",\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/02/28/russian-central-bank-hikes-interest-rate-to-20-as-ruble-sinks-to-record-low/?sh=4892cd927a7e\",\"https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report/biden-to-sign-crypto-order-as-industry-faces-sanctions-pressure\",\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/V4VXWdWMLvA\",\"http://could%20putin%20be%20exploring%20cryptocurrencies%20to%20bypass%20western%20sanctions/?\",\"https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/sarahemerson/federal-lawmakers-worry-russian-leaders-are-using-crypto-to\",\"https://twitter.com/jespow/status/1498112741684363265\",\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/mar/02/crypto-exchange-boss-changpeng-zhao-binance-resists-calls-for-ban-on-all-russia-transactions#:~:text=Crypto%20exchange%20boss%20resists%20calls%20for%20ban%20on%20all%20Russia%20transactions,-Changpeng%20Zhao,%20founder&text=It%20is%20not%20the%20place,be%20used%20to%20bypass%20sanctions.\",\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kbdqq/crypto-exchanges-refuse-to-freeze-all-russian-accounts\",\"https://thehill.com/policy/international/596693-biden-weighing-sanctions-on-india-over-russian-military-stockpiles\",\"https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/biden-will-decide-on-sanctions-on-india-us-official-on-russian-s-400-deal-122030300447_1.html\",\"https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/india-ukraine-sanction-biden-unga-b2027646.html\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "994f3de3ff5fa2db920855e61902452b76032d68",
  "block": 49526781,
  "trx_in_block": 6,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-12-17T12:45:00",
  "op": [
    "transfer",
    {
      "from": "blurtofficial",
      "to": "mitchellmcguire",
      "amount": "0.001 STEEM",
      "memo": "CONGRATS! You have a 1:1 BLURT AIRDROP of 0.001 BLURT and 114.533000 BLURT POWER waiting for you. Check out https://blurtwallet.com/@mitchellmcguire and https://blurt.blog/ TODAY!"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0d9842db03be6e84a033d5b388076115a6ee6831",
  "block": 49342583,
  "trx_in_block": 8,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-12-11T00:25:48",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "facebook",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "facebook-s-reign-comes-to-an-end-48-state-attorneys-general-and-ftc-gang-up-to-take-fb-down",
      "title": "FaceBook’s Reign Comes To an End: 48 State Attorneys General and FTC Gang Up to Take FB Down",
      "body": "# FaceBook’s Reign Comes To an End: 48 State Attorneys General and FTC Gang Up to Take FB Down\n\n### On Wednesday, [nearly every state attorney general collectively filed a lawsuit](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech-antitrust-facebook/facebook-faces-us-lawsuits-that-could-force-sale-of-instagram-whatsapp-idUSKBN28J2UL) against Facebook, accusing it of monopolistic anti-competitive practices including buying up competition that posed a threat. The Federal Trade Commission also filed a separate lawsuit.\n\n--- \n\nBoth lawsuits focused on the anti-competitive practices of Facebook, with emphasis on the acquisitions of Instagram(1 billion, 2012) and Whatsapp(19 billion, 2014). Reuters stated:\n\n> Federal and state regulators said the acquisitions should be unwound — a move that is likely to set off a long legal challenge as the deals were cleared years earlier by the FTC.\n\n[Matt Stroller would write on the ordeal](https://mattstoller.substack.com/p/the-end-of-the-facebook-crime-spree), saying that “The state AG complaint is stronger, but both tell the same story. Facebook bought Instagram and WhatsApp to stop nascent competitors from challenging its monopoly power in social networking. It also used a variety of other tactics to foreclose competitors it could not buy from entering the market and challenging its dominance. Then, after it became a monopoly, it increased prices or downgraded user experiences to profit from the conspiracy it had arranged.”\n\nRegarding the downgraded user experiences after increases in market share, Stroller said:\n\n> “Srinivasan showed that **Facebook actually beat out MySpace by offering users** a product differentiated with **better privacy guarantees.** But a**fter monopolizing the market and killing its competitors, Facebook immediately started degrading the quality of the product with intrusive surveillance of its users, contra their wishes.**\n> \n> The complaints from enforcers mirror her argument. **They claim Facebook’s anti-competitive tactics made the product worse, not just by spying on people when they wanted a product that protected their privacy**, but also by **increasing the number of ads people had to wade through to get to content they sought.”**\n\nStroller noted that the FTC started it case by examining an email from Zuckerberg in 2008 in which he said “It is better to buy than compete”.\n\nNew York Attorney General Letitia James speaking on behalf of every state/territory involved in the lawsuit, which incudes Guam and the District of Columbia, would state:\n\n> “For nearly a decade, Facebook has used its dominance and monopoly power to crush smaller rivals, snuff out competition, all at the expense of everyday users”\n\nSoon after the announcement, [Facebook defended itself](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/12/ftc-and-46-states-file-lawsuits-to-break-up-facebook.html), “\n\n> “Years after the FTC cleared our acquisitions, the government now wants a do-over with no regard for the impact that precedent would have on the broader business community or the people who choose our products every day,”\n\n[The Intelligencer noted that in the past](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/12/ftc-and-46-states-file-lawsuits-to-break-up-facebook.html), Facebook has [argued](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/technology/facebook-antitrust-monopoly.html) that the rapid rise of other social-media apps, such as TikTok, proves that the market is still competitive. The article would conclude by acknowledging a house judiciary committee report.\n\n> In October, the Judiciary Committee [published](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/10/are-techs-big-four-smart-enough-to-break-themselves-up.html) a report on its 15-month investigation into monopolistic tactics at Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon. “**To put it simply, companies that once were scrappy, underdog startups that challenged the status quo have become the kinds of monopolies we last saw in the era of oil barons and railroad tycoons,**” states the report\n\nOne thing is for certain, Big Tech is integral to our democracy , and its market diversity is important, as are enforcing anti-trust laws. Social media in particular is extremely vulnerable to “the network effect”, which means that companies with an existing user network have an extreme advantage over newer platforms, and Facebook’s practice of buying up the ones the slip through the cracks is something to take seriously.\n\nAs Matt Stroller noted, Facebooks primary defense is that the government allowed the mergers to transpire in the first place, and years have passed with no action. But this doesn’t make it okay, or proper. In addition to the recent lawsuits, there has been a lot of talk surrounding Section 230 of the NDAA in relation to Social Media, primarily in the context of censorship. However, this issue is often misconstrued, which I cover here in a [sister-article](/5ef54251cac9?source=friends_link&sk=0d653b3d4e341fffa7437695b1d5fe54) concerning Tulsi Gabbard’s recent “Break Up Big Tech Act of 2020” act which seeks to strip the immunity granted by Sec. 230 to Facebook, Google, and other tech giants that are using algorithms and censoring politically.\n\nWill Congress force Facebook to sell WhatApp and Instagram? Is that enough? **When social media platforms are used by world leaders and are the primary way people get their news, _is it healthy for a democracy to allow political censorship in social media platforms that dominate the consumer market?_**\n\n![markdrink.jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmV8hdyDYS6BnDUmGjmZKSeQcvrLkKRfNaQBiYeKF4Vc3G/markdrink.jpeg)",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"censorship\",\"monopoly\",\"politics\",\"whatsapp\",\"instagram\",\"socialmedia\",\"business\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmV8hdyDYS6BnDUmGjmZKSeQcvrLkKRfNaQBiYeKF4Vc3G/markdrink.jpeg\"],\"links\":[\"https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech-antitrust-facebook/facebook-faces-us-lawsuits-that-could-force-sale-of-instagram-whatsapp-idUSKBN28J2UL\",\"https://mattstoller.substack.com/p/the-end-of-the-facebook-crime-spree\",\"https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/12/ftc-and-46-states-file-lawsuits-to-break-up-facebook.html\",\"https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/technology/facebook-antitrust-monopoly.html\",\"https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/10/are-techs-big-four-smart-enough-to-break-themselves-up.html\",\"/5ef54251cac9?source=friends_link&sk=0d653b3d4e341fffa7437695b1d5fe54\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "2f5c460e6478e14a390065efc5fab9845272095e",
  "block": 49342568,
  "trx_in_block": 12,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-12-11T00:25:03",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "facebook",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "facebook-s-reign-comes-to-an-end-48-state-attorneys-general-and-ftc-gang-up-to-take-fb-down",
      "title": "FaceBook’s Reign Comes To an End: 48 State Attorneys General and FTC Gang Up to Take FB Down",
      "body": "# FaceBook’s Reign Comes To an End: 48 State Attorneys General and FTC Gang Up to Take FB Down\n\n### On Wednesday, [nearly every state attorney general collectively filed a lawsuit](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech-antitrust-facebook/facebook-faces-us-lawsuits-that-could-force-sale-of-instagram-whatsapp-idUSKBN28J2UL) against Facebook, accusing it of monopolistic anti-competitive practices including buying up competition that posed a threat. The Federal Trade Commission also filed a separate lawsuit.\n\n--- \n\nBoth lawsuits focused on the anti-competitive practices of Facebook, with emphasis on the acquisitions of Instagram(1 billion, 2012) and Whatsapp(19 billion, 2014). Reuters stated:\n\n> Federal and state regulators said the acquisitions should be unwound — a move that is likely to set off a long legal challenge as the deals were cleared years earlier by the FTC.\n\n[Matt Stroller would write on the ordeal](https://mattstoller.substack.com/p/the-end-of-the-facebook-crime-spree), saying that “The state AG complaint is stronger, but both tell the same story. Facebook bought Instagram and WhatsApp to stop nascent competitors from challenging its monopoly power in social networking. It also used a variety of other tactics to foreclose competitors it could not buy from entering the market and challenging its dominance. Then, after it became a monopoly, it increased prices or downgraded user experiences to profit from the conspiracy it had arranged.”\n\nRegarding the downgraded user experiences after increases in market share, Stroller said:\n\n> “Srinivasan showed that **Facebook actually beat out MySpace by offering users** a product differentiated with **better privacy guarantees.** But a**fter monopolizing the market and killing its competitors, Facebook immediately started degrading the quality of the product with intrusive surveillance of its users, contra their wishes.**\n> \n> The complaints from enforcers mirror her argument. **They claim Facebook’s anti-competitive tactics made the product worse, not just by spying on people when they wanted a product that protected their privacy**, but also by **increasing the number of ads people had to wade through to get to content they sought.”**\n\nStroller noted that the FTC started it case by examining an email from Zuckerberg in 2008 in which he said “It is better to buy than compete”.\n\nNew York Attorney General Letitia James speaking on behalf of every state/territory involved in the lawsuit, which incudes Guam and the District of Columbia, would state:\n\n> “For nearly a decade, Facebook has used its dominance and monopoly power to crush smaller rivals, snuff out competition, all at the expense of everyday users”\n\nSoon after the announcement, [Facebook defended itself](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/12/ftc-and-46-states-file-lawsuits-to-break-up-facebook.html), “\n\n> “Years after the FTC cleared our acquisitions, the government now wants a do-over with no regard for the impact that precedent would have on the broader business community or the people who choose our products every day,”\n\n[The Intelligencer noted that in the past](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/12/ftc-and-46-states-file-lawsuits-to-break-up-facebook.html), Facebook has [argued](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/technology/facebook-antitrust-monopoly.html) that the rapid rise of other social-media apps, such as TikTok, proves that the market is still competitive. The article would conclude by acknowledging a house judiciary committee report.\n\n> In October, the Judiciary Committee [published](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/10/are-techs-big-four-smart-enough-to-break-themselves-up.html) a report on its 15-month investigation into monopolistic tactics at Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon. “**To put it simply, companies that once were scrappy, underdog startups that challenged the status quo have become the kinds of monopolies we last saw in the era of oil barons and railroad tycoons,**” states the report\n\nOne thing is for certain, Big Tech is integral to our democracy , and its market diversity is important, as are enforcing anti-trust laws. Social media in particular is extremely vulnerable to “the network effect”, which means that companies with an existing user network have an extreme advantage over newer platforms, and Facebook’s practice of buying up the ones the slip through the cracks is something to take seriously.\n\nAs Matt Stroller noted, Facebooks primary defense is that the government allowed the mergers to transpire in the first place, and years have passed with no action. But this doesn’t make it okay, or proper. In addition to the recent lawsuits, there has been a lot of talk surrounding Section 230 of the NDAA in relation to Social Media, primarily in the context of censorship. However, this issue is often misconstrued, which I cover here in a [sister-article](/5ef54251cac9?source=friends_link&sk=0d653b3d4e341fffa7437695b1d5fe54) concerning Tulsi Gabbard’s recent “Break Up Big Tech Act of 2020” act which seeks to strip the immunity granted by Sec. 230 to Facebook, Google, and other tech giants that are using algorithms and censoring politically.\n\nWill Congress force Facebook to sell WhatApp and Instagram? Is that enough? **When social media platforms are used by world leaders and are the primary way people get their news, _is it healthy for a democracy to allow political censorship in social media platforms that dominate the consumer market?_**\n\n![markdrink.jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmV8hdyDYS6BnDUmGjmZKSeQcvrLkKRfNaQBiYeKF4Vc3G/markdrink.jpeg)",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"facebook\",\"censorship\",\"monopoly\",\"politics\",\"whatsapp\",\"instagram\",\"socialmedia\",\"business\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmV8hdyDYS6BnDUmGjmZKSeQcvrLkKRfNaQBiYeKF4Vc3G/markdrink.jpeg\"],\"links\":[\"https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech-antitrust-facebook/facebook-faces-us-lawsuits-that-could-force-sale-of-instagram-whatsapp-idUSKBN28J2UL\",\"https://mattstoller.substack.com/p/the-end-of-the-facebook-crime-spree\",\"https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/12/ftc-and-46-states-file-lawsuits-to-break-up-facebook.html\",\"https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/technology/facebook-antitrust-monopoly.html\",\"https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/10/are-techs-big-four-smart-enough-to-break-themselves-up.html\",\"/5ef54251cac9?source=friends_link&sk=0d653b3d4e341fffa7437695b1d5fe54\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "7accb702ec29f38d64c9d47fa6fe98e28777b3fa",
  "block": 49342357,
  "trx_in_block": 6,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-12-11T00:14:18",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "facebook",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "tulsi-gabbard-introduces-the-break-up-big-tech-act",
      "title": "Tulsi Gabbard Introduces the “Break Up Big Tech Act”",
      "body": "# Tulsi Gabbard Introduces the “Break Up Big Tech Act”\n\n### On Thursday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard(D) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R) [introduced a bill](https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-gabbard-gosar-introduce-break-big-tech-bill-remove-legal-immunity-big-tech) that would treat monopolistic Big Tech companies such as Facebook as publishers under Section 230. \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Today I introduced the Break Up Big Tech Act with <a href=\"https://twitter.com/RepGosar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@RepGosar</a> to remove <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sec230?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Sec230</a> immunity for tech companies who act like publishers, censoring and manipulating users, treating us and our attention like products to make their billions. <a href=\"https://t.co/kstFKsUL85\">https://t.co/kstFKsUL85</a></p> Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiPress) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiPress/status/1336855720696946688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 10, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nWhat exactly Section 230? There is a lot of talk about the 23 words that constitute Sec. 230. So, let’s take a look at what Section 230, which originated in says:\n\n> ***“No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider\"***\n\nWhat **this essentially says is that if a company that hosts individual content producers cannot be held liable for what individuals post on that platform. Likewise, users who are on a platform who interact with content,** whether it be sharing or liking or commenting, **cannot be held for liable** for the content they are interacting with. **_If anything_**, **this is supposed to protect platforms from having to censor, and _allows them_ to allow free speech.**\n\nThis is why there are people who, while understanding the problem with market dominators and censorship, are saying Section 230 is not the problem.\n\nElectronic Frontier Foundation(EFF) published an article titled, ***“[Section 230 is Good, Actually](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/12/section-230-good-actually)”***.\n\nJason Kelly, the author, described Section 230 by saying\n\n> “Put simply, the law means that although you are legally responsible for what you say online, if you host or republish other peoples’ speech, only those people are legally responsible for what they say.”\n\nFor Free Speech advocates such as myself, this is not a bad thing inherently. So where does the abuse come in? How do Big Tech companies use this to censor and exert control over the freedom of information? Because, As the EFF put “_Without Section 230, the Internet would be a very different place, one with fewer spaces where we’re all free to speak out and share our opinions._”\n\nThe EFF article also boldly stated:\n\n> **No, Section 230 is not a “hand-out to Big Tech,” or a big tech “immunity, ” or a “gift” to companies. Section 230 protects you and the forums you care about, not just “Big Tech.”**\n\nThe Verge wrote an article titled that “[WHY THE INTERNET’S MOST IMPORTANT LAW EXISTS AND HOW PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING IT WRONG](https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/21/18700605/section-230-internet-law-twenty-six-words-that-created-the-internet-jeff-kosseff-interview) “, that explained the origins of Sec. 230\n\n> “To really understand Section 230, you have to go all the way back to the 1950s. There was a Los Angeles ordinance that said if you have obscene material in your store, you can be held criminally responsible. So a vice officer sees this erotic book that he believes is obscene. Eleazar Smith, who owns the store, is prosecuted, and he’s sentenced to 30 days in jail.”\n\nSec. 230 protects content hosting platforms, and freedom of expression and discussion, to the point that it has been called the “ [_The Twenty-Six Words that Created the Internet_](https://www.jeffkosseff.com/home)_”._ Without it, the open internet as we know it would not exist, and the diversity of speech and content would be much narrower. Yet, Section is 230 is widely criticized. Why? ‘\n\nWell, partially because Section 230 is predicated on the premise that it protects **_nuetral_** platforms.\n\nFast Company published an article titled “[_Maybe it’s time to strip Section 230’s protections for big tech_](https://www.fastcompany.com/90273352/maybe-its-time-to-take-away-the-outdated-loophole-that-big-tech-exploits)”, later changed to “[_Maybe it’s time to take away the outdated loophole that big tech_](https://www.fastcompany.com/90273352/maybe-its-time-to-take-away-the-outdated-loophole-that-big-tech-exploits) _exploits_” and then “[_The 1996 law that made the web is in the crosshairs_](https://www.fastcompany.com/90273352/maybe-its-time-to-take-away-the-outdated-loophole-that-big-tech-exploits)_”_. The article describes a sort of backlash at big tech by republicans for tendencies to censor political content on the right:\n\n> “Many Republicans believe that Silicon Valley tech companies are determined to suppress conservative content on their platforms.\n> \n> One of them is Senator Ted Cruz, who had this to say during an October debate with Beto O’Rourke: “Right now, big tech enjoys an immunity from liability on the assumption they would be neutral and fair,” Cruz said. “If they’re not going to be neutral and fair, if they’re going to be biased, we should repeal the immunity from liability so they should be liable like the rest of us.”\n> \n> Cruz suggested the same thing when questioning Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg during a Senate hearing in April: “The predicate for Section 230 immunity under the CDA is that you’re a neutral public forum,” Cruz said. “Do you consider yourself a neutral public forum, or are you engaged in political speech, which is your right under the First Amendment?”\n\nOthers have across the aisle have pointed out that Facebook effectively acts as a publisher and editor, curating content based upon political lines and adjusting algorithms to assist this. Mark Sullivan for the FCC would wrote:\n\n> “But **Facebook has always been quick to insist that it’s not a publisher, just a neutral technology platform**. There’s a very **good reason for that: Publishers are liable for the content they publish on their websites**; **neutral platforms enjoy the protections in Section 230.**\n> \n> **AN ‘OUTDATED LOOPHOLE THAT GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK CAN EXPLOIT’**\n> \n> But **in reality, Facebook** [**isn’t so different**](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/02/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-platform-publisher-lawsuit) **from a publisher**, argues former White House technology staffer Mikey Dickerson. **Once companies put their hands (or their algorithms) into the process of making decisions on what content to show individual users**, Dickerson says, **they’re acting like publishers.**\n> \n> Dickerson, who spent a good chunk of his career at Google, says big web platforms have evolved so far since 1996 that Section 230 no longer fits. ‘I think it’s an outdated loophole that Google and Facebook can exploit,’ he told me.” …\n\nAfter explaining why totally repealing Section 230 is not the solution, Sullivan would say that the only thing that can really be done by Congress is exactly what Tulsi Gabbard and Paul Gosar have just proposed.\n\n> **The only real leverage that Congress has is the threat of taking away the protections in Section 230 that tech companies have enjoyed for so long.** Wyden was sure to remind Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg and Twitter’s Jack Dorsey of that when he questioned them during a hearing in September.\n\n[Gabbard’s press statement regarding the “Break up Big Tech Act of 2020”](https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-gabbard-gosar-introduce-break-big-tech-bill-remove-legal-immunity-big-tech) read begins as follows:\n\n> Today, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) and Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-04) introduced the Break Up Big Tech Act of 2020, which would remove the Section 230 legal immunity shield that protects interactive computer service providers — like big tech monopolies and social media companies — who engage in certain manipulative practices, including acting as publishers and censoring certain users.\n\nTulsi Gabbard was directly quoted to have said the following:\n\n> “Big tech monopolies like Google and Facebook have made billions of dollars by creating online platforms that **monetize our private information, use manipulative and destructive algorithms, and act as publishers choosing what information they want to censor or publish**. They undermine our freedom of speech and treat us and our attention as the product, monetizing it to line their pockets with more money without any regard for the damaging consequences. **This bill removes the legal immunity that service providers have taken advantage of** to act with impunity, **while maintaining Section 230 protections for those who provide truly neutral social media platforms or search engines without the use of manipulative algorithms**.”\n\nGosar would also comment:\n\n> “**Big Tech monopolies continue to censor and manipulate users without consent or liability**. **The Break Up Big Tech Act revokes liability protections for bad Samaritans and instead empowers users**. I am proud to work with Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard on the _Don’t Push My Buttons Act_, _Stop the Censorship Act_, and now the _Break Up Big Tech Act_ to reform Section 230 and protect online consent and free speech instead of censorship and manipulation.”\n\n**So what criteria would strip the immunity granted by Sec. 230?**\n\n*   _Selling and displaying personalized as well as contextual advertising without user’s consent_\n*   _Collecting data for commercial purposes other than the direct sale of the interactive computer service, i.e. turning the user into a commodity or otherwise monetizing the transmission of content_\n*   _Acting as a marketplace in the digital space by facilitating the placement of items into the stream of commerce_\n*   _Employing digital products and designs intended to engage and addict users to the service_\n*   _Acting as a publisher by using algorithms to moderate or censor content without opt-in from users_\n\nThe bottom line is that totally repealing section 230 would nothing to stop censorship and would actually hurt free speech, while doing nothing ignores the problem that the Big Tech companies are acting as editors and restrictive publishers rather than neutral service providers — with little realistic opportunity for alternatives to effectively compete because of what is called “the network effect”.\n\n“The network effect” gives the existing Big Tech giants a significant advantage over would-be competition. **The network effect is an economic term that describes a service or product whose value is partially dependent on the size of its network of users.** Facebook is a good example of this, versus some alternative social media platform with only a few thousand, or even million, people instead of the billion that Facebook has.\n\nThis phenomenon is what has lead to the monopolistic dynamic that largely keeps competition from seriously rivaling the tech giants**. Moreover, Facebook has employed anti-competitive practices such as buying out companies it sees as a growing threat — Instagram and WhatsApp being examples**. WhatsApp was bought for 19 BILLION dollars**,** shocking many market analysts as it was well above the actual market evaluation.\n\nThis **however may change very soon, considering that** [**the attorney general from 48 different states**_(including Guam and DC)_ **grouped together and filed a massive anti-monopoly lawsuit against Facebook just on Tuesday**](/facebooks-reign-comes-to-an-end-48-state-attorneys-general-and-ftc-gang-up-to-take-fb-down-f4d11efcb34f?sk=09872024b8965cb2366df2632327e0dd)**,** which seeks **to get them to sell WhatsApp and Instagram. What else? The Federal Trade Commission(FTC) filed a lawsuit the same day.** Facebook should be in for a rough time.\n\n> By disallowing these tech giants to get away with having the immunity privileges granted to neutral parties by Sec 230 when they are instead acting as biased publishers and editors, a step is made towards making not just the playing field more fair, but our democracy.\n\n\n![bigtehchoking.v4.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcauZPMCgRrKMR1nR35cywuCwwW5m44tP1bvsCWqX89fS/bigtehchoking.v4.jpg)\n\n\n\n![GT-JulAug20.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaa3LSDPP4C3RvRk6rm9HqRB2cHTJgT6mjmq4eov6XGxX/GT-JulAug20.jpg)",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"bigtech\",\"politics\",\"gabbard\",\"tech\",\"censorship\",\"google\",\"twitter\"],\"users\":[\"tulsipress\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcauZPMCgRrKMR1nR35cywuCwwW5m44tP1bvsCWqX89fS/bigtehchoking.v4.jpg\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaa3LSDPP4C3RvRk6rm9HqRB2cHTJgT6mjmq4eov6XGxX/GT-JulAug20.jpg\"],\"links\":[\"https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-gabbard-gosar-introduce-break-big-tech-bill-remove-legal-immunity-big-tech\",\"https://twitter.com/RepGosar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sec230?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/kstFKsUL85\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiPress/status/1336855720696946688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/12/section-230-good-actually\",\"https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/21/18700605/section-230-internet-law-twenty-six-words-that-created-the-internet-jeff-kosseff-interview\",\"https://www.jeffkosseff.com/home\",\"https://www.fastcompany.com/90273352/maybe-its-time-to-take-away-the-outdated-loophole-that-big-tech-exploits\",\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/02/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-platform-publisher-lawsuit\",\"/facebooks-reign-comes-to-an-end-48-state-attorneys-general-and-ftc-gang-up-to-take-fb-down-f4d11efcb34f?sk=09872024b8965cb2366df2632327e0dd\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "f3d4d51cc874dda4e32c1b324eaea7b63bb67028",
  "block": 49342330,
  "trx_in_block": 5,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-12-11T00:12:57",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "facebook",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "tulsi-gabbard-introduces-the-break-up-big-tech-act",
      "title": "Tulsi Gabbard Introduces the “Break Up Big Tech Act”",
      "body": "# Tulsi Gabbard Introduces the “Break Up Big Tech Act”\n\n### On Thursday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard(D) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R) [introduced a bill](https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-gabbard-gosar-introduce-break-big-tech-bill-remove-legal-immunity-big-tech) that would treat monopolistic Big Tech companies such as Facebook as publishers under Section 230. \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Today I introduced the Break Up Big Tech Act with <a href=\"https://twitter.com/RepGosar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@RepGosar</a> to remove <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sec230?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Sec230</a> immunity for tech companies who act like publishers, censoring and manipulating users, treating us and our attention like products to make their billions. <a href=\"https://t.co/kstFKsUL85\">https://t.co/kstFKsUL85</a></p> Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiPress) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiPress/status/1336855720696946688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 10, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nWhat exactly Section 230? There is a lot of talk about the 23 words that constitute Sec. 230. So, let’s take a look at what Section 230, which originated in says:\n\n> ***“No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider\"***\n\nWhat **this essentially says is that if a company that hosts individual content producers cannot be held liable for what individuals post on that platform. Likewise, users who are on a platform who interact with content,** whether it be sharing or liking or commenting, **cannot be held for liable** for the content they are interacting with. **_If anything_**, **this is supposed to protect platforms from having to censor, and _allows them_ to allow free speech.**\n\nThis is why there are people who, while understanding the problem with market dominators and censorship, are saying Section 230 is not the problem.\n\nElectronic Frontier Foundation(EFF) published an article titled, ***“[Section 230 is Good, Actually](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/12/section-230-good-actually)”***.\n\nJason Kelly, the author, described Section 230 by saying\n\n> “Put simply, the law means that although you are legally responsible for what you say online, if you host or republish other peoples’ speech, only those people are legally responsible for what they say.”\n\nFor Free Speech advocates such as myself, this is not a bad thing inherently. So where does the abuse come in? How do Big Tech companies use this to censor and exert control over the freedom of information? Because, As the EFF put “_Without Section 230, the Internet would be a very different place, one with fewer spaces where we’re all free to speak out and share our opinions._”\n\nThe EFF article also boldly stated:\n\n> **No, Section 230 is not a “hand-out to Big Tech,” or a big tech “immunity, ” or a “gift” to companies. Section 230 protects you and the forums you care about, not just “Big Tech.”**\n\nThe Verge wrote an article titled that “[WHY THE INTERNET’S MOST IMPORTANT LAW EXISTS AND HOW PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING IT WRONG](https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/21/18700605/section-230-internet-law-twenty-six-words-that-created-the-internet-jeff-kosseff-interview) “, that explained the origins of Sec. 230\n\n> “To really understand Section 230, you have to go all the way back to the 1950s. There was a Los Angeles ordinance that said if you have obscene material in your store, you can be held criminally responsible. So a vice officer sees this erotic book that he believes is obscene. Eleazar Smith, who owns the store, is prosecuted, and he’s sentenced to 30 days in jail.”\n\nSec. 230 protects content hosting platforms, and freedom of expression and discussion, to the point that it has been called the “ [_The Twenty-Six Words that Created the Internet_](https://www.jeffkosseff.com/home)_”._ Without it, the open internet as we know it would not exist, and the diversity of speech and content would be much narrower. Yet, Section is 230 is widely criticized. Why? ‘\n\nWell, partially because Section 230 is predicated on the premise that it protects **_nuetral_** platforms.\n\nFast Company published an article titled “[_Maybe it’s time to strip Section 230’s protections for big tech_](https://www.fastcompany.com/90273352/maybe-its-time-to-take-away-the-outdated-loophole-that-big-tech-exploits)”, later changed to “[_Maybe it’s time to take away the outdated loophole that big tech_](https://www.fastcompany.com/90273352/maybe-its-time-to-take-away-the-outdated-loophole-that-big-tech-exploits) _exploits_” and then “[_The 1996 law that made the web is in the crosshairs_](https://www.fastcompany.com/90273352/maybe-its-time-to-take-away-the-outdated-loophole-that-big-tech-exploits)_”_. The article describes a sort of backlash at big tech by republicans for tendencies to censor political content on the right:\n\n> “Many Republicans believe that Silicon Valley tech companies are determined to suppress conservative content on their platforms.\n> \n> One of them is Senator Ted Cruz, who had this to say during an October debate with Beto O’Rourke: “Right now, big tech enjoys an immunity from liability on the assumption they would be neutral and fair,” Cruz said. “If they’re not going to be neutral and fair, if they’re going to be biased, we should repeal the immunity from liability so they should be liable like the rest of us.”\n> \n> Cruz suggested the same thing when questioning Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg during a Senate hearing in April: “The predicate for Section 230 immunity under the CDA is that you’re a neutral public forum,” Cruz said. “Do you consider yourself a neutral public forum, or are you engaged in political speech, which is your right under the First Amendment?”\n\nOthers have across the aisle have pointed out that Facebook effectively acts as a publisher and editor, curating content based upon political lines and adjusting algorithms to assist this. Mark Sullivan for the FCC would wrote:\n\n> “But **Facebook has always been quick to insist that it’s not a publisher, just a neutral technology platform**. There’s a very **good reason for that: Publishers are liable for the content they publish on their websites**; **neutral platforms enjoy the protections in Section 230.**\n> \n> **AN ‘OUTDATED LOOPHOLE THAT GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK CAN EXPLOIT’**\n> \n> But **in reality, Facebook** [**isn’t so different**](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/02/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-platform-publisher-lawsuit) **from a publisher**, argues former White House technology staffer Mikey Dickerson. **Once companies put their hands (or their algorithms) into the process of making decisions on what content to show individual users**, Dickerson says, **they’re acting like publishers.**\n> \n> Dickerson, who spent a good chunk of his career at Google, says big web platforms have evolved so far since 1996 that Section 230 no longer fits. ‘I think it’s an outdated loophole that Google and Facebook can exploit,’ he told me.” …\n\nAfter explaining why totally repealing Section 230 is not the solution, Sullivan would say that the only thing that can really be done by Congress is exactly what Tulsi Gabbard and Paul Gosar have just proposed.\n\n> **The only real leverage that Congress has is the threat of taking away the protections in Section 230 that tech companies have enjoyed for so long.** Wyden was sure to remind Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg and Twitter’s Jack Dorsey of that when he questioned them during a hearing in September.\n\n[Gabbard’s press statement regarding the “Break up Big Tech Act of 2020”](https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-gabbard-gosar-introduce-break-big-tech-bill-remove-legal-immunity-big-tech) read begins as follows:\n\n> Today, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) and Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-04) introduced the Break Up Big Tech Act of 2020, which would remove the Section 230 legal immunity shield that protects interactive computer service providers — like big tech monopolies and social media companies — who engage in certain manipulative practices, including acting as publishers and censoring certain users.\n\nTulsi Gabbard was directly quoted to have said the following:\n\n> “Big tech monopolies like Google and Facebook have made billions of dollars by creating online platforms that **monetize our private information, use manipulative and destructive algorithms, and act as publishers choosing what information they want to censor or publish**. They undermine our freedom of speech and treat us and our attention as the product, monetizing it to line their pockets with more money without any regard for the damaging consequences. **This bill removes the legal immunity that service providers have taken advantage of** to act with impunity, **while maintaining Section 230 protections for those who provide truly neutral social media platforms or search engines without the use of manipulative algorithms**.”\n\nGosar would also comment:\n\n> “**Big Tech monopolies continue to censor and manipulate users without consent or liability**. **The Break Up Big Tech Act revokes liability protections for bad Samaritans and instead empowers users**. I am proud to work with Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard on the _Don’t Push My Buttons Act_, _Stop the Censorship Act_, and now the _Break Up Big Tech Act_ to reform Section 230 and protect online consent and free speech instead of censorship and manipulation.”\n\n**So what criteria would strip the immunity granted by Sec. 230?**\n\n*   _Selling and displaying personalized as well as contextual advertising without user’s consent_\n*   _Collecting data for commercial purposes other than the direct sale of the interactive computer service, i.e. turning the user into a commodity or otherwise monetizing the transmission of content_\n*   _Acting as a marketplace in the digital space by facilitating the placement of items into the stream of commerce_\n*   _Employing digital products and designs intended to engage and addict users to the service_\n*   _Acting as a publisher by using algorithms to moderate or censor content without opt-in from users_\n\nThe bottom line is that totally repealing section 230 would nothing to stop censorship and would actually hurt free speech, while doing nothing ignores the problem that the Big Tech companies are acting as editors and restrictive publishers rather than neutral service providers — with little realistic opportunity for alternatives to effectively compete because of what is called “the network effect”.\n\n“The network effect” gives the existing Big Tech giants a significant advantage over would-be competition. **The network effect is an economic term that describes a service or product whose value is partially dependent on the size of its network of users.** Facebook is a good example of this, versus some alternative social media platform with only a few thousand, or even million, people instead of the billion that Facebook has.\n\nThis phenomenon is what has lead to the monopolistic dynamic that largely keeps competition from seriously rivaling the tech giants**. Moreover, Facebook has employed anti-competitive practices such as buying out companies it sees as a growing threat — Instagram and WhatsApp being examples**. WhatsApp was bought for 19 BILLION dollars**,** shocking many market analysts as it was well above the actual market evaluation.\n\nThis **however may change very soon, considering that** [**the attorney general from 48 different states**_(including Guam and DC)_ **grouped together and filed a massive anti-monopoly lawsuit against Facebook just on Tuesday**](/facebooks-reign-comes-to-an-end-48-state-attorneys-general-and-ftc-gang-up-to-take-fb-down-f4d11efcb34f?sk=09872024b8965cb2366df2632327e0dd)**,** which seeks **to get them to sell WhatsApp and Instagram. What else? The Federal Trade Commission(FTC) filed a lawsuit the same day.** Facebook should be in for a rough time.\n\n> By disallowing these tech giants to get away with having the immunity privileges granted to neutral parties by Sec 230 when they are instead acting as biased publishers and editors, a step is made towards making not just the playing field more fair, but our democracy.\n\n\n![bigtehchoking.v4.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcauZPMCgRrKMR1nR35cywuCwwW5m44tP1bvsCWqX89fS/bigtehchoking.v4.jpg)\n\n\n\n![GT-JulAug20.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaa3LSDPP4C3RvRk6rm9HqRB2cHTJgT6mjmq4eov6XGxX/GT-JulAug20.jpg)",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"facebook\",\"bigtech\",\"tulsigabbard\",\"gabbard\",\"tech\",\"socialmedia\",\"google\",\"twitter\"],\"users\":[\"tulsipress\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcauZPMCgRrKMR1nR35cywuCwwW5m44tP1bvsCWqX89fS/bigtehchoking.v4.jpg\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaa3LSDPP4C3RvRk6rm9HqRB2cHTJgT6mjmq4eov6XGxX/GT-JulAug20.jpg\"],\"links\":[\"https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-gabbard-gosar-introduce-break-big-tech-bill-remove-legal-immunity-big-tech\",\"https://twitter.com/RepGosar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sec230?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/kstFKsUL85\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiPress/status/1336855720696946688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/12/section-230-good-actually\",\"https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/21/18700605/section-230-internet-law-twenty-six-words-that-created-the-internet-jeff-kosseff-interview\",\"https://www.jeffkosseff.com/home\",\"https://www.fastcompany.com/90273352/maybe-its-time-to-take-away-the-outdated-loophole-that-big-tech-exploits\",\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/02/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-platform-publisher-lawsuit\",\"/facebooks-reign-comes-to-an-end-48-state-attorneys-general-and-ftc-gang-up-to-take-fb-down-f4d11efcb34f?sk=09872024b8965cb2366df2632327e0dd\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "9d9d33e17ac1d8b7b24e8e67c0edc343e81a2944",
  "block": 49302568,
  "trx_in_block": 6,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-12-09T14:27:06",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "ufo",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "former-isreali-general-and-space-security-chief-says-galactic-federation-of-aliens-have-been-in-contact-with-isreali-and-us",
      "title": "Former Isreali General and Space Security Chief Says Galactic Federation of Aliens Have Been in Contact With Isreali and US Governments",
      "body": "# Former Isreali General and Space Security Chief Says Galactic Federation of Aliens Have Been in Contact With Isreali and US Governments\n\n## Former Isreali Space Head claimed the US has representatives on a secret base on Mars as part of agreements with the Galactic Federation \n---\n\nThe 87 year-old former head of the Isreali Space Security Program, Haim Eshed, has alleged that the US and Isreali governments have been in communication with aliens for years. On Monday, the Jerusalem Post released a piece titled “[**_Former Israeli Space Security Chief Says Aliens Exist, Humanity Not Ready_**](https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-head-of-israels-space-division-aliens-are-real-trump-was-on-the-verge-of-confirming)”.\n\n> Speaking in an interview to _Yediot Aharonot_, Eshed — who served as the **head of Israel’s space security program for nearly 30 years** and is a **three-time recipient of the Israel Security Award** — explained that Israel and the US have both been dealing with aliens for years.\n\nThe article was subtitled:\n\n> “**This ‘Galactic Federation’ ha**s **supposedly been in contact with Israel and the US for years**, but are **keeping themselves a secret to prevent hysteria until humanity is ready.”**\n\n_According to Eshed,_ **_Both_** **Aliens and Americans have representatives at an underground base on Mars** as part of their cooperative efforts and agreements, which apparently revolve around the mutual desire to understand the “fabric of the universe”.\n\n![alienmeeting.jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeXstDhoucVUztoXQWjZJwiziAbzvVN8MTar6dqDzsCw8/alienmeeting.jpeg)\n\nEshed would elaborate to [Yediot Aharonot](https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-head-of-israels-space-division-aliens-are-real-trump-was-on-the-verge-of-confirming)\n\n“**_They signed a contract with us to do experiments here. They, too, are researching and trying to understand the whole fabric of the universe, and they want us as helpers. There’s an underground base in the depths of Mars, where their representatives are, and also our American astronauts.”_**\n\nJerusalem post would comment:\n\n_“If true, this would coincide with US President Donald Trump’s creation of the Space Force as the fifth branch of the US armed forces, though_ **_it is unclear how long this sort of relationship, if any, has been going on between the US and its reported extraterrestrial allies.”_**\n\nMoreover, Eshed “insists” that Trump was not only aware of ET existence, but was “on the verge” of initiating disclosure to the public. Unfortunately, the Galactic Federation reportedly stopped Trump from informing the public as the Federation feared that the news would cause mass public hysteria and wished to first see humans “_evolve and reach a stage where we will… understand what space and spaceships are_,” Eshed would tell _Yediot Aharonot_.\n\n**_So why is Eshed coming public with this now?_**\n\nWell, he explained that the academia environment and community has changed so much in the past few years. Furthermore, since he is a respected and established member within it, he was able to comfortably speak out on it.\n\n> **‘If I had come up with what I’m saying today five years ago, I would have been hospitalized**,’ he explained to Yediot.\n> \n> He added that ‘**today, they’re already talking differently. I have nothing to lose. I’ve received my degrees and awards; I am respected in universities abroad, where the trend is also changing**.’ ”\n\nThe Jerusalem Post wrapped up by informing the reader that:\n\n> “Eshed provided more information in his newest book, _The Universe Beyond the Horizon — conversations with Professor Haim Eshed_, along with other details such as how aliens have prevented nuclear apocalypses and “when we can jump in and visit the Men in Black.”\n\nThe Daily Wire appropriately noted that just in [August the DOD announced the launch of a _Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force_](https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2314065/establishment-of-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-task-force/source/GovDelivery/)(UAPTF) whose job it was to “_improve its understanding of, and_ **_gain insight into, the nature and origins of UAPs._** _The mission of the task force is to detect, analyze and catalog UAPs that could potentially pose a threat to U.S. national security.”_\n\nThe [Daily Wire would go on](https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-head-of-israels-space-division-aliens-are-real-trump-was-on-the-verge-of-confirming) to give another recent example of how the consideration of an ET presence has gained enough mainstream legitimacy to be taken seriously, citing what [Marco Rubio told CBS in July](https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-defense-officials-briefed-on-off-world-vehicles-not-made-on-this-earth-sen-rubio-sounds-alarm-over-unidentified-aircraft).\n\n> “**We have things flying over our military bases and places where we’re conducting military exercises** and **we don’t know what it is and it isn’t ours**,” Rubio said.\n> \n> “So, **that’s a legitimate question to ask**. I would say that **frankly** that **if it’s something outside this planet that might actually be better than the fact that we’ve seen some technological leap on behalf of the Chinese or the Russians or some other adversary** that allows them to conduct this sort of activity.”\n> \n> “But **the bottom line is, there are things flying over your military bases and you don’t know what they are because they’re not yours** and **they exhibit potentially technologies that you don’t have at your own disposal**, that to me is a national security risk and one that we should be looking into.”\n\n[Futurism.com would comment on this story](https://futurism.com/the-byte/israeli-whistleblower-aliens-exist), reminding us that “Eshed isn’t the first high profile official to claim” that there’s alien life out there, citing the 6th man to walk on the moon, Edgar Mitchell, who “[became a gadfly to NASA](https://www.military.com/off-duty/navy-astronaut-and-6th-man-moon-believed-alien-intervention.html) late in life with similar claims.”\n\n[**According to Military.com**](https://www.military.com/off-duty/navy-astronaut-and-6th-man-moon-believed-alien-intervention.html)**, Mitchell was “best known for typing in 80 lines of code to save the entire Apollo 14 mission as it descended to the moon in 1971**. **_But_** _he also claimed that top military officials had hidden evidence of UFOs_, _potentially alien spacecraft, and that they were particularly fond of hovering over White Sands Testing Range in New Mexico._”\n\n[Mitchell would tell The Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/peace-loving-aliens-tried-save-6235113) that:\n\n> “**White Sands was a testing ground for atomic weapons** — and **that’s what the extraterrestrials were interested in**… They wanted to know about our military capabilities. My own experience talking to people has made it clear **the ETs had been attempting to keep us from going to war and help create peace on Earth.”**\n\nHe would also remarkably claim that “_other military personnel had confided in him that alien spacecraft were responsible for disabling nuclear missiles and for shooting them down over the Pacific Coast.”_\n\nThis aligns with what another prominent figure has said, the Former Defense Minister of Canada, akin to the Secretary of Defense for the US, who served as the head of Canada’s military from 1963–67. In 2015, the Daily Mail published the headline, “[**_Governments are HIDING aliens, claims former defence minister: Paul Hellyer urges world leaders to reveal ‘secret files_**](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3051151/Governments-HIDING-aliens-claims-former-defence-minister-Paul-Hellyer-urges-world-leaders-reveal-secret-files.html)**_’”_**\n\nThe year before this coverage by the Daily Mail, Hellyer appeared on RT saying that aliens are walking among us but refuse to share their advanced technology until we elevate above our warring and polluting tendencies.\n\nThe Former Defense Minister said on RT that there are 80 different species of extra-terrestrials some of whom ‘**_look just like us and they could walk down the street and you wouldn’t know if you walked past one_**.’\n\nHe is also quoted to have said,\n\n> “_We have a long history of UFOs and of course_ **_there has been a lot more activity in the last few decades since we invented the atomic bomb_**_.”_\n> \n> ‘They are **very concerned about that and that we might use it again,** because the whole cosmos as a unity, and **it affects not just us but other people in the cosmos.**\n> \n> ‘**They are very much afraid that we might be stupid enough to start using atomic weapons again.**\n\nHellyer said on RT’s SophieCo that he believes that most ETs are benevolent and have good intentions for us.\n\n> “I would say that nearly all are benign and benevolent and they do want to help us, there may be one or two species which do not.”\n\nHe also claims that ET’s are responsible for lots of modern technology, including the microchip and LED lights.\n\nWhile top dog generals of multiple countries explicitly saying aliens exist certaintly helps society take the topics of aliens seriously, it would be a mistake to rely on these figures to tell us the truth in order to acquire the truth. The public as well as non governmental entities are capable of researching and confirming or denying ET existence without the governmental thought police giving its stamp of approval on reality. However, the point is that leaks and whistleblowers from within the government keep trickling out, from top to bottom — and that respective sections of the government are restricting knowledge from the public on the issue.\n\n![confidencialufo.jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWKtnfXPAcj7HrM6zYufHtbNoLPn5q5e84ypKs7r4cwqk/confidencialufo.jpeg)\n\nMany low level whistleblowers have trickled out throughout the years from various governmental departments in various countries — they rarely get mainstream attention however, and when they do, it is easy for the news cycle to brush off and for the public to forget it even happened.\n\nJust to pick up a straw of hay in a hay stack — In 2016, [the Express reported](https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/647476/EXCLUSIVE-Navy-whistleblower-saw-proof-of-aliens-and-UFOs-on-Earth) an exclusive on a Navy Whistleblower who claims to have seen proof of Aliens and UFOs on earth.\n\n> “The man, who says he was a **third-class petty officer at a US Naval telecommunications centre during the 1980s, before more senior posts in the US Army and Navy Seals**, claims to have **valuable new evidence about the Bizarre Rendlesham UK UFO mass sightings**, in Suffolk in 1980.”\n\nHe would be quoted saying,\n\n> “**I have never seen a UFO** or ET or alien, however **I have seen literally tens of thousand of documents confirming they are real and have visited Earth**.”\n> \n> “I have no smoking gun evidence and no copies of anything I viewed, but my job was working as US Navy radio man in communications and the job had top-secret clearance to handle this stuff.”\n\nAccording to the Express, The veteran said he was just speaking out at that time because his confidentiality agreement with the US authorities expired in 2014.\n\nWhen asked why he had not removed some of the pictures or other evidence, he replied: **_“Legally, you are not authorized to walk off with classified information. That is treason and treason is a felony.”_**\n\n> _“I do not possess anything other than my testimony and documents that authorize that I legitimately had the individual top-secret security clearances.”_\n\n ## -                                                            **_“But this is a rabbit hole that goes very deep.”_*\n\n\n![_51514227_ufo_hat_pa.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQuftSapeX5ZUHQEvNeqBaAyHmmevgYqXFRHD5wTM4Jbn/_51514227_ufo_hat_pa.jpg)",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"ufo\",\"aliens\",\"extraterrestrial\",\"galactic\",\"federation\",\"isreal\",\"eshed\",\"space\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeXstDhoucVUztoXQWjZJwiziAbzvVN8MTar6dqDzsCw8/alienmeeting.jpeg\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWKtnfXPAcj7HrM6zYufHtbNoLPn5q5e84ypKs7r4cwqk/confidencialufo.jpeg\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQuftSapeX5ZUHQEvNeqBaAyHmmevgYqXFRHD5wTM4Jbn/_51514227_ufo_hat_pa.jpg\"],\"links\":[\"https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-head-of-israels-space-division-aliens-are-real-trump-was-on-the-verge-of-confirming\",\"https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2314065/establishment-of-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-task-force/source/GovDelivery/\",\"https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-defense-officials-briefed-on-off-world-vehicles-not-made-on-this-earth-sen-rubio-sounds-alarm-over-unidentified-aircraft\",\"https://futurism.com/the-byte/israeli-whistleblower-aliens-exist\",\"https://www.military.com/off-duty/navy-astronaut-and-6th-man-moon-believed-alien-intervention.html\",\"https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/peace-loving-aliens-tried-save-6235113\",\"https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3051151/Governments-HIDING-aliens-claims-former-defence-minister-Paul-Hellyer-urges-world-leaders-reveal-secret-files.html\",\"https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/647476/EXCLUSIVE-Navy-whistleblower-saw-proof-of-aliens-and-UFOs-on-Earth\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "03989e1dd72f665f952448fdccdb209f8ce3b4c8",
  "block": 48913033,
  "trx_in_block": 0,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-25T20:19:39",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "bernie",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "bernie-vs-tulsi-how-to-identify-controlled-opposition-part-4",
      "title": "Bernie vs Tulsi: How to Identify Controlled Opposition Part 4",
      "body": "@@ -32943,21 +32943,16 @@\n dynamic \n-that \n has iron\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"sanders\",\"tulsi\",\"gabbard\",\"tulsigabbard\",\"politics\",\"election\",\"fed\"],\"users\":[\"tulsigabbard\",\"kayrosef\",\"mtracey\",\"marcorubio\",\"ambjohnbolton\",\"shepardofcats\",\"justinamash\",\"realdonaldtrump\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeZb4HYW9UABUzC7Da5Wq8qk5WX2yS1fHt1T6XKjjaV1A/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd2ALYmWLaV2ooRePj7FCNR1XW9Esj9PRSevMw4oiHfHN/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdbjfMkyGF7VVPCMxPk4q1CnDSNqCMUdh9rpqDoY7PXJn/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeeXmmaALvdbCis5cjLohAfjh24aKAjJBsViuKCa9FWVo/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmS9QHhQpdDhzNYs6DeGtTQKsnmnqSXSQcuuPYKom5eePP/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQ8bwJs4U1sdZVuG44wWQz4aMvM9QrTDYshhDSEReTZN9/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYhiqLV5k1N1efwEDJgEw8yS8D4UTqPpxYWaJjfFCz1Bk/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcwDaV7FhyvE4RNHi74MFfzw4PEGytfHx63op2HiWyjfK/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmW2gruif9UKcK7XmvqaSkz98UJaNL869RVaR1vwn9P2wm/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmV4jVsaQBh73HRD6bdQ7YVmhs9xVqUHfMgrp9wMDEb36t/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmczWkny3wKhxwsCKQw2UnDTa13p3oTNnkmaC5H8uDGw9N/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQA84hBskjGSsobHbqSpVwWtLiGaz19qMvXZCsedTXjHX/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNaA74hMsULF7JhS4jBjpucQ4FP7RddFT6fqNY6eECUBD/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcDJB8RTnbedz6x2w6PsWuHfCEHstBgNwdAieUZwmGvuS/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc35AiMWhXztHzRmRBsJfP9ocvDvA7fCrqhUsrWJ6hJus/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVXnsXa6XjaEuJ2JnQhoyYTZ1Aqapjcpg7RU66tiJ5sE6/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbHLQxVZprAgRuagxHixYJsPWdwUydtykK29moLznQ1CR/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmanJb6BwCMcbH3KEgzGNLn1nNDW2BS5VLDTv9erRPSWmY/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfLvf77EkU4YLBypZPWMrkLHcPJRxbKkXwG1uq2o8BqTZ/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWNUmF33VgbuxqdsPePqRk9hWpoa9jGrPyw1YEJyte8Rb/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmax9bbUeehMwRMgpa4dxNo7mhpgZKEYt3xZWnw2yaLDeH/image.png\"],\"links\":[\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/ron-paul-calls-tulsi-gabbard-very-best-democratic-candidate\",\"https://thehill.com/policy/finance/96587-ron-paul-says-bernie-sanders-qsold-outq-on-fed-amendment\",\"https://twitter.com/kayrosef/status/1227647723349979137?s=19\",\"https://mcguiremitchell32.medium.com/how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-is-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-one-steemit-ad8fb0fe7e95?sk=2f0be0c38b4cc4fe7a4870b62e7369a7\",\"https://mcguiremitchell32.medium.com/tulsi-gabbard-introduces-emergency-ubi-same-day-fed-announces-1-5-d23ba5f4aa42?sk=c849057477cce0514b430b067dd45a42\",\"https://www.businessinsider.com/gabbard-campaign-3rd-party-run-talks-gary-johnson-offers-help-2020-2\",\"https://libertarianinvestments.com/2019/01/19/would-tulsi-gabbard-be-a-good-president/\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TULSI2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/Q1sHDNwZSy\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1129008856971923456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoWarWithIran?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithTulsi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiWasRight?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/kayrosef/status/1213587705176756226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://theantimedia.com/trump-war-with-iran-closer-than-you-thought/\",\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1214063768847695873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://reason.com/2020/01/04/absent-evidence-of-imminent-attack-on-americans-white-houses-justification-for-killing-iranian-general-collapses/\",\"https://themindunleashed.com/2019/12/new-wikileaks-bombshell-further-shreds-syria-chemical-attack-narrative.html\",\"https://news.yahoo.com/trump-reportedly-told-associates-killed-162634145.html\",\"https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1213463178979483649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://news.antiwar.com/2020/01/13/as-soleimanis-four-embassy-allegation-falls-apart-trump-says-it-doesnt-matter/\",\"https://www.timesofisrael.com/soleimanis-past-actions-were-reason-enough-to-kill-him-trump-says/\",\"https://edition.cnn.com/2002/LAW/11/04/us.assassination.policy/\",\"https://www.newsweek.com/iranian-military-mastermind-leading-battle-recapture-tikrit-isis-311516\",\"https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1214225656088793093?s=19\",\"https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2020/01/05/the-us-government-lies-constantly-and-the-burden-of-proof-is-on-the-accuser/\",\"https://twitter.com/AmbJohnBolton/status/1213044218689720321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://theintercept.com/2020/01/16/david-wurmser-iran-suleimani-iraq-war/\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TrumpsWar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1213198601993646080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://news.antiwar.com/2020/01/05/soleimani-was-in-baghdad-on-mission-for-saudi-peace/\",\"https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-says-us-will-not-leave-iraq-unless-billions-air-base-are-repaid\",\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/897/cosponsors\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/Shepardofcats/status/1214180527751626752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.vox.com/world/2017/8/25/16185936/trump-america-first-afghanistan-war-troops-iraq-generals\",\"https://time.com/4785714/donald-trump-saudi-arabia/\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fhomenews%2Fcampaign%2F464687-2020-democrats-hit-trumps-planned-syria-withdraw\",\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/FydpfhMNVf\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1181984547963101189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1181984550437699584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/scuDP5M0z5\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1216496130361417728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/rc1f7heyCP\",\"https://twitter.com/justinamash/status/1216054398138376192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-votes-against-defense-bill-keeps-us-troops-afghanistan#:~:text=Washington%2C%20DC%E2%80%94Today%2C%20Rep.%20Tulsi%20Gabbard%20%28HI-02%29%20voted%20against,concerns%20the%20Congresswoman%20had%20with%20the%20massive%20bill.\",\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1214728302159712256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1213689342272659456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdWft0MOF4I\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "43cc59557b9b7e50d66c3d50738506e605704557",
  "block": 48912986,
  "trx_in_block": 4,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-25T20:17:15",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "limka",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "bernie-vs-tulsi-how-to-identify-controlled-opposition-part-4",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "4d00cfedeb3cdbec1c66192f45c7fb03ec2989dc",
  "block": 48912983,
  "trx_in_block": 0,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-25T20:17:06",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "bernie",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "bernie-vs-tulsi-how-to-identify-controlled-opposition-part-4",
      "title": "Bernie vs Tulsi: How to Identify Controlled Opposition Part 4",
      "body": "# Bernie vs Tulsi: How to Identify Controlled Opposition Part 4\n\n## On the Issues cont.\n---\n## Federal Reserve\n### Tulsi: Tulsi Gabbard is a cosponsor of the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2019 - which seeks to audit the Federal Reserve. \n\n[Ron Paul expressed support for Tulsi Gabbard](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/ron-paul-calls-tulsi-gabbard-very-best-democratic-candidate), saying that she was the \"very best\" democrat running\n\n>\"Tulsi Gabbard by far is the very, very best\" \n> \"She is very liberal when it comes to economics. We probably wouldn't agree with too much on economics.\"\n> “She is good on foreign policy. She does not want these engagements, which is an economic issue. We'd save a lot of money by not being engaged like this.\"\n\n>\"She's the most intelligent and would be the best, If we had to pick one of them to be our president, I think she would be giving us the best chance as for bringing about peace.\"\n\nThis is certainly one of the policies that inspired Ron Paul’s endorsement, aside from her foreign policy. Now lets take a look at where Ron Paul puts Bernie on this issue, largely for the sake of recognizing the boundaries of Bernie's appealability. \n\n### Bernie: The Hill published a piece titled, \"***[Ron Paul says Bernie Sanders 'sold out' on Fed amendment](https://thehill.com/policy/finance/96587-ron-paul-says-bernie-sanders-qsold-outq-on-fed-amendment)***\"\"\n\nI am just going to leave it at that. \n\nIf Bernie could not assimilate Tulsi’s progressive stances into his own platform, why should Tulsi supporters have assimilated into Bernie’s camp when Bernie refused to fight for us and the issues we care about? While Tulsi was on par with Bernie’s domestic issues regarding healthcare and education, Bernie failed to meet her on advocating for freedom of speech on social media by challenging big tech censorship, or for freedom of press by supporting Assange, nor does he challenging intervention and sanctions in Syria, Venezuela, and Iran...just to name a few key issues. \n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeZb4HYW9UABUzC7Da5Wq8qk5WX2yS1fHt1T6XKjjaV1A/image.png)\nhttps://twitter.com/kayrosef/status/1227647723349979137?s=19\n\n**The most power the President has is bestowed through their role of being the Commander in Chief**, this is arguably the most important role of the president, **as Congress has little say in the area** ever since the war on terror began, ***whereas Bernie’s most popular platforms rely on Congress getting legislation passed congress and brought to his desk.*** **Tulsi supporters are not confident in Bernie standing up to the military industrial complex**, based on his history mostly. Even if his rhetoric was more appealing on issue such as Venezuela, his history would cast doubt.\n\nTulsi supporters were not confident in Bernie standing up to the military industrial complex. **He has complied with the war machine's agenda many times since 2016, and for decades prior**. Unless he changed his tune drastically, ***telling Tulsi supporters or Tulsi herself that they are obliged to throw their support behind Bernie was a gigantic insult***, not just to Tulsi and her supporters, but ***to everyone affected by issues she speaks up for that Bernie refused to give a voice to***, whether it be ***Assange rotting in prison*** or the ***children of Venezuela, Iran, and Syria starving*** as a result of the ***sanctions and propaganda*** that **Bernie is complicit** in supporting and propagating.\n\nOn top of all the policy differences, and after Bernie's surrogates have *relentlessly smeared* Tulsi, it is extremely entitled to have tried to shame Tulsi voters into voting for Bernie in the primaries. Many have countered by shaming Bernie himself, along with his surrogates - not just for vote shaming but for anything which was worthy of shame.\n\nWhen a Bernie surrogate smeared Tulsi, Niko, a Tulsi surrogate, would respond\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd2ALYmWLaV2ooRePj7FCNR1XW9Esj9PRSevMw4oiHfHN/image.png)\nA Tulsi supporter would add to the discussion:\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdbjfMkyGF7VVPCMxPk4q1CnDSNqCMUdh9rpqDoY7PXJn/image.png)\n\nSome would take the *\"Gabbard should drop out and stop hurting Bernie's chances\"* argument and flipped it around.\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeeXmmaALvdbCis5cjLohAfjh24aKAjJBsViuKCa9FWVo/image.png)\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmS9QHhQpdDhzNYs6DeGtTQKsnmnqSXSQcuuPYKom5eePP/image.png)\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQ8bwJs4U1sdZVuG44wWQz4aMvM9QrTDYshhDSEReTZN9/image.png)\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYhiqLV5k1N1efwEDJgEw8yS8D4UTqPpxYWaJjfFCz1Bk/image.png)\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcwDaV7FhyvE4RNHi74MFfzw4PEGytfHx63op2HiWyjfK/image.png)\n\nShe isn't wrong, Sanders has alienated many from his movement, where as Tulsi has successfully reached out across the spectrum. \n***Despite running on a progressive platform, she earned an endorsement from Gary Johnson, the libertarian candidate in 2016, going into the New Hampshire Primary.***\nGabbard builds bridges outside of the progressive movement better than Bernie, but she also burns bridges better than Bernie - bridges that need to be burnt. ie: DNC establishment, intelligence community, military-industrial complex, etc\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmW2gruif9UKcK7XmvqaSkz98UJaNL869RVaR1vwn9P2wm/image.png)\n\nBernie supporters were vote shaming Tulsi supporters and telling Tulsi to drop out as Bernie's campaign was complicit in her erasure and said nothing when [CNN excluded her from the debates she was more qualified for than half the other candidates invited according to the polls](https://mcguiremitchell32.medium.com/how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-is-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-one-steemit-ad8fb0fe7e95?sk=2f0be0c38b4cc4fe7a4870b62e7369a7). Nor did Bernie and Co say anything when she was excluded from the other debates, even when the [DNC changed their rules of a debate last minute when Gabbard indisputably hit their previous long-standing criteria](https://mcguiremitchell32.medium.com/tulsi-gabbard-introduces-emergency-ubi-same-day-fed-announces-1-5-d23ba5f4aa42?sk=c849057477cce0514b430b067dd45a42)\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmV4jVsaQBh73HRD6bdQ7YVmhs9xVqUHfMgrp9wMDEb36t/image.png)\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmczWkny3wKhxwsCKQw2UnDTa13p3oTNnkmaC5H8uDGw9N/image.png)\n\nNot only was Gabbard’s calling out of the nomination process and the overseers of it as corrupt and pointing out the “rigging” of the process a display of strength and authenticity, but it drew attention from independents and those fed up with the political establishment on both sides of the aisle. Not only was Tulsi focused more on differentiating herself from the other candidates on the issues during the primary rather than only focusing on beating Donald Trump, but she was better poised to just that, to actually beat him in a general, more so than any other candidate, with huge crossover appeal from independents. \n\n[Gary Johnson, the previous libertarian nominee, endorsed her before the NH primary](https://www.businessinsider.com/gabbard-campaign-3rd-party-run-talks-gary-johnson-offers-help-2020-2). Shortly after Tulsi’s presidential bid, Libertarian Investments published a piece titled, “[Would Tulsi Gabbard Make a Good President](https://libertarianinvestments.com/2019/01/19/would-tulsi-gabbard-be-a-good-president/)?”\n\n>\"The main reason she stands out is because **she is anti-establishment, particularly when it comes to the issue of war and foreign intervention.**\n\n>***Some would say that Gabbard is the left-wing version of Ron Paul.***  But we have to get a bit more specific. ***On cultural and economic issues, Gabbard is certainly mostly on the political left.  On the issue of foreign policy, Tulsi Gabbard and Ron Paul are basically in the same camp.***\n\n>Gabbard will be 39 years old when the 2020 election is held.  She would be the youngest president in the history of the United States.  She would obviously also become the first female president.\n\n>***The establishment has already taken their digs at Gabbard.***  I suspect that the establishment media will try to ignore her as much as possible.  **They will give her the Ron Paul treatment to a certain extent. If she starts to gain significant support, then she is going to start to experience the Donald Trump treatment by the media.** ”\n\nLibertarians and independents would be willing to set aside differences on economics and accept her progressive platform that includes free healthcare, UBI, and other progressive initiatives, because she represents them in other areas that they feel are important - and doesn't alienate and disrespect them.\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQA84hBskjGSsobHbqSpVwWtLiGaz19qMvXZCsedTXjHX/image.png)\n\n**Presidential powers are limited in most areas**, ***but*** since the war on terrorism, **the president can initiate acts of war without congressional approval, and this has happened before**. Even before this precedent was set post 9/11, the president has always faced the the least restraint, and most power in the area of foreign policy. **This is why many claim the most important role of the president is the commander-in-chief, and it is why the foreign policy differences between Bernie and Tulsi are so crucial.**\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNaA74hMsULF7JhS4jBjpucQ4FP7RddFT6fqNY6eECUBD/image.png)\n\nAnother smear on Gabbard Bernie supporters were found the frequently echo was that she was a GOP Trojan horse. I want to address this to highlight that she was tough on Trump where everyone else was **easy*** **on him**.\n\n## Smear: Tulsi is a GOP Trojan horse and is easy on Trump\n### Reality: Tulsi opposed Trump's foreign policy while democrats thought he wasn't doing enough and wAs wOrKiNg fOr pUtIn\n\nTulsi said in May of 2019 that Trump and Bolton were pushing us to the brink of war with Iran.\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Trump promised to get the US out of “stupid wars.” But now he and John Bolton are on the brink of launching us into a very stupid and costly war with Iran. Join me in sending a strong message to President Trump: The US must NOT go to war with Iran. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TULSI2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TULSI2020</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/Q1sHDNwZSy\">pic.twitter.com/Q1sHDNwZSy</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1129008856971923456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 16, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Democratic candidate Twitter mentions of &quot;war in Iran&quot; before the strike that killed Soleimani. <br><br>Tulsi Gabbard--55<br>Bernie Sanders--15<br>Elizabeth Warren-9<br>Amy Klobuchar--8<br>Joe Biden--6<br>Andrew Yang--3<br>Tom Steyer--3<br>Pete Buttigieg--1<a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoWarWithIran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NoWarWithIran</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithTulsi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#StandWithTulsi</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiWasRight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TulsiWasRight</a></p> Kathryn Rose Fisher (@kayrosef) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/kayrosef/status/1213587705176756226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 4, 2020</a></blockquote> \n11 months later and here we are, in a near state of war after [Trump assassinated Iran’s second-in-command, Soleimani, outside an Iraqi international airport](https://theantimedia.com/trump-war-with-iran-closer-than-you-thought/).\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Is there any other country on Earth which could convince itself that assassinating another country&#39;s top general and revered national hero is anything but a blatant act of war? Doubtful. Only in the USA do we have such capacity for self-delusion. Reminds me of Rome.</p> Michael Tracey (@mtracey) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1214063768847695873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 6, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcDJB8RTnbedz6x2w6PsWuHfCEHstBgNwdAieUZwmGvuS/image.png)\n\n**Iran’s second-in-command was extrajudicially assassinated by President Trump**, ***a clear pretext for war***. The reasons given by the White House amounted to Soleimani being a “terrorist” being responsible for the deaths of “hundreds of American soldiers”, and that taking him out was preventing an “imminent attack”. \n\nMike pence, the second-in-command of our country as Soleimani was to his, [stated on Friday](https://reason.com/2020/01/04/absent-evidence-of-imminent-attack-on-americans-white-houses-justification-for-killing-iranian-general-collapses/) that Soleimani “*was actively plotting in the region to take actions, the big action as he described it, that would have put dozens if not hundreds of American lives at risk,* ***We know it was imminent.***”\n\nOf course, **the evidence used to support the White House’s claims is highly suspect**, ***brought to you by the same intelligence community that lied its way into the Iraq War*** (*among many other post-2000 lies [such as the Dhouma attacks](https://themindunleashed.com/2019/12/new-wikileaks-bombshell-further-shreds-syria-chemical-attack-narrative.html), not to mention the Afghanistan papers)*. Eric Boehm noted in his article, \"***[Without Evidence of 'Imminent' Attack on Americans, the White House's Justification for Killing Iranian General Seems Hollow](https://reason.com/2020/01/04/absent-evidence-of-imminent-attack-on-americans-white-houses-justification-for-killing-iranian-general-collapses/)***” that, “*Citing two unnamed U.S. intelligence officials who have been briefed on the Soleimani assassination, Rukmini Callimachi,the New York Times' top correspondent covering ISIS and the War on Terror, reports that* ***‘evidence suggesting there was to be an imminent attack on American targets is 'razor thin'’  and that the Trump administration made an ‘illogical leap’ in deciding to kill Soleimani.’***”\n\nThe Business Insider would report that [Trump told associates that](https://news.yahoo.com/trump-reportedly-told-associates-killed-162634145.html) “***he assassinated Iran's top military leader last week in part to appease Republican senators who will play a crucial role in his Senate impeachment trial***”\n\nMarc Rubio responded to the media’s demands for evidence with a statement that comes straight from the empire’s manufacturing consent/propaganda manual, ending his statement with,  “***And easy for media to say no proof that these threats were different, because its highly classified intelligence that can’t be disclosed without putting sources & methods used at risk***”...**Well, now isn’t that convenient?**\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Easy for foreign “leaders” to condemn U.S. strike,it wasn’t their troops facing imminent attack<br><br>And easy for media to say no proof that these threats were different,because its highly classified intelligence that can’t be disclosed without putting sources &amp; methods used at risk</p> Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1213463178979483649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 4, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n\nThe reasons given by the white house shifted as their narrative collapsed was concisely portrayed by Ditz in an article titled “***[As ‘Four Embassy’ Allegation Falls Apart, Trump Says It Doesn’t Matter](https://news.antiwar.com/2020/01/13/as-soleimanis-four-embassy-allegation-falls-apart-trump-says-it-doesnt-matter/)***”:\n\n>“So with all those lies behind us, ***President Trump now is taking the position that “[it doesn’t really matter](https://www.timesofisrael.com/soleimanis-past-actions-were-reason-enough-to-kill-him-trump-says/)” if the four embassy thing was made up, or that the “imminent threat” claim was untrue***.\n\n>***Trump now says that Soleimani deserved to die whether or not anything he said about him was true, because of his “horrible past.”*** Soleimani’s history as a top military leader for a country the US doesn’t get along with would in essence cover this.\n\n>And yet despite Trump’s claims, ***[US law has made clear that political assassinations are illegal](https://edition.cnn.com/2002/LAW/11/04/us.assassination.policy/). Claims of “imminent threats” are so common by the military specifically because it offers them some vague legal pretext to circumvent the law against assassination*** for policy’s sake. Having lost that, **Trump’s claim that it** ***“doesn’t matter”*** **seems to fly in the face of American legal standards.”**\n\nWhile many would defend Trump’s action by accusing Iran of supporting terrorism, they would neglect to acknowledge that Soleimani was widely recognized as being crucial in the war on ISIS, even by western media and military-as US forces have worked with Soleimani in anti-terrorism operations as [he was a major participant in the war on ISIS](https://www.newsweek.com/iranian-military-mastermind-leading-battle-recapture-tikrit-isis-311516).\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc35AiMWhXztHzRmRBsJfP9ocvDvA7fCrqhUsrWJ6hJus/image.png)\n\nThey also fail to acknowledge the fact that this brings us closer to war. We turned Soleimani into a martyr. [Ben Norton would comment on Soleimani's funeral alongside a videoclip of the crowds from a moving helicopter](https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1214225656088793093?s=19).\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVXnsXa6XjaEuJ2JnQhoyYTZ1Aqapjcpg7RU66tiJ5sE6/image.png)\n\nAs Caitlin Johnstone wrote in “ ***[The US Government Lies Constantly and the Burden of Proof is on the Accuser](https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2020/01/05/the-us-government-lies-constantly-and-the-burden-of-proof-is-on-the-accuser/)***”,\n\n> “**The US government has a very extensively documented history of lying to advance pre-existing military agendas.** ***This is an entirely indisputable fact.*** It’s been universally true from generation to generation, from administration to administration, and from political party to political party. *The Afghanistan Papers came out just a few weeks ago further documenting this already conclusively established fact.* **Anyone who just accepts US government assertions about the need for military force without a mountain of independently verifiable proof is, to put it nicely, a complete fucking idiot.**\n\n> ***The demand for proof would be normal even if the entity in question didn’t have an extensive history of lying about these things, because,*** as anyone with even a cursory understanding of logic already knows, **the burden of proof is always on the party making the claim.** *When it comes to incalculably important matters like life and death, demanding that the burden of proof be met is just being a sensible human being.*\n\n>**Add in the fact that the US government is known to lie constantly about these matters**, and ***believing its current claims about Soleimani makes as much sense as believing a known compulsive liar who has deceived you many times when he tells you it’s urgent that you go murder your neighbor right this instant.”***\n\nNow how does this relate to democrats and Bernie? It'll make sense soon.\n\n Here is what John Bolton, key architect of the Iraq war had to say following the assassination. \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Congratulations to all involved in eliminating Qassem Soleimani. Long in the making, this was a decisive blow against Iran&#39;s malign Quds Force activities worldwide. Hope this is the first step to regime change in Tehran.</p> John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/AmbJohnBolton/status/1213044218689720321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 3, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nAnd to demonstrate the hivemind of left, even after all his war-mongering, weeks after after he made the tweet above cheering outright regime change, John Bolton would go on to be a hero of the left for testifying against Trump, as if all of his previous war crimes had been forgiven and even forgotten.\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbHLQxVZprAgRuagxHixYJsPWdwUydtykK29moLznQ1CR/image.png)\n\n[Another Iraq war architect, David Wurmser, was made one of Trump's chief advisors on Iran](https://theintercept.com/2020/01/16/david-wurmser-iran-suleimani-iraq-war/). While democrats were unusually silent on condemning trump for surrounding himself with Neocons like Bolton and Wurmser, Tulsi pointed out Trump's hypocrisy in his declaration claiming intent to prevent a war rather than start one.\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">“We do not seek regime change” Trump declares as he escalates his regime change war against Iran. Neocons like Graham/Bolton are cheering. To all who voted for Trump bc of his antiwar rhetoric, it’s time to realize he lied to u. Stand with me against Trump’s Iran War! <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TrumpsWar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TrumpsWar</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1213198601993646080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 3, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nTrump would then go on to announce a fresh round of sanctions, which Ilhan Omar would do a good job of condemning.\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmanJb6BwCMcbH3KEgzGNLn1nNDW2BS5VLDTv9erRPSWmY/image.png)\n\n***[Soleimani was on a diplomatic mission to reply to Saudi Arabia using Iraq as an intermediary](https://news.antiwar.com/2020/01/05/soleimani-was-in-baghdad-on-mission-for-saudi-peace/)***. Iraq’s parliament would vote to expel US troops from the country.](https://news.antiwar.com/2020/01/05/soleimani-was-in-baghdad-on-mission-for-saudi-peace/) Trump responded by asking them to pay billions of dollars for the American airbase, and as [Zerohedge reported](https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-says-us-will-not-leave-iraq-unless-billions-air-base-are-repaid), \n\n>“That, however, wasn't enough, and Trump also made it clear that in addition to billions in reimbursements, unless the US left on a ‘very friendly basis’, the US would hit Iraq with ‘very big’ sanctions like ‘they’ve never seen before ever.’\n\n>***‘If they do ask us to leave, if we don’t do it in a very friendly basis. We will charge them sanctions like they’ve never seen before ever. It’ll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame.’*** ”\n\n\"The Squad\" - often idolized as the driving progressive influence in Washington -  not only repeatedly fails to defend Gabbard through smears, even some partaking in them some, they treat her like a disease. Gabbard will propose positive legislation and she finds no support from progressives whom she should be able to gather some from. To Representative Omar's credit, she was the only cosponsor of [H.R 897 by Gabbard](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/897/cosponsors) - *a resolution calling for 1000 dollars a month for every adult American.*\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I have been noticing a trend with &quot;The Squad&quot; they seem to agree with <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TulsiGabbard</a>. Yet none of them will support her bills, make up watered-down versions of, Plagiarize her rhetoric. Even attain office off the backs of her bills YET NONE OF THEM WILL EVEN MENTION HER NAME</p> David Jandrow (@Shepardofcats) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Shepardofcats/status/1214180527751626752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 6, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nAnd while the democrats allowed Gabbard to be further shamed for her present vote on impeachment, many see the overall efforts by democrats as \"political theatre\" to simply score political brownie-points from Trump-hating voters. The democrats, \"progressive\" or not, refused to acknowledge the corruption of their own party while they prosecuted Trump for corruption, and it did not go unnoticed.\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfLvf77EkU4YLBypZPWMrkLHcPJRxbKkXwG1uq2o8BqTZ/image.png)\n\n\nThis was immediately after the Iowa Caucus behavior. She didn't have much to say on that. Nothing at all on twitter. She called it a \"hot mess\" and that quote ran the MSM news cycle, so that's nice.\n\nTrump’s 2016 campaign had [anti-imperialism undertones](https://www.vox.com/world/2017/8/25/16185936/trump-america-first-afghanistan-war-troops-iraq-generals)in his foreign policy rhetoric, including condemnations of Saudi Arabia, but [he would go on to flip-flop on many of his talking points](https://time.com/4785714/donald-trump-saudi-arabia/), many of these regarding foreign policy.\n\nIts funny, most of the democrats who attack him and are so fixated on him cheer his draconian sanctions, or do little to oppose them and turn a blind eye. [Many democrats even condemned him for not doing enough when he started to withdraw troops](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fhomenews%2Fcampaign%2F464687-2020-democrats-hit-trumps-planned-syria-withdraw) from Syria, including Sanders. And indeed there is some merit there, but…here is a how you *should* approach it.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@realdonaldtrump</a> isn&#39;t removing our troops from Syria. He&#39;s just moving them from the northern Syrian border, allowing Turkey to invade Syria &amp; slaughter the Kurds. Trump lied to the Kurds, promising them our support while simultaneously preventing them ... (1/5) <a href=\"https://t.co/FydpfhMNVf\">pic.twitter.com/FydpfhMNVf</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1181984547963101189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 9, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">... from reconciling with the Syrian government and coordinating a common defense against Turkish invasion. The impending slaughter &amp; ethnic cleansing of the Syrian by Turkey is happening because Trump refuses to end our efforts to overthrow the Syrian government. (2/5)</p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1181984550437699584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 9, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWNUmF33VgbuxqdsPePqRk9hWpoa9jGrPyw1YEJyte8Rb/image.png)\n\n\n\n\n Again, Tulsi Gabbard’s “No More Presidential Wars” resolution does not have one single cosponsor. **If others were serious about preventing war and impeaching Trump, they would have supported Tulsi’s legislation**, and **_if passed_**, **_Trump would have been removed from office if he were to have assassinated Soleimani without congressional approval_** — _which he did._ The legislation, if enacted, would have restored constitutional balance and discouraged and prevented the extrajudicial-assassination, as the law is meant to do, or Trump would already be gone.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Trump disgraces our military by using our men &amp; women in uniform as mercenaries serving the interests of multinational corps (e.g Exxon) &amp; foreign countries (e.g Saudis). We must stand side by side—no matter our political party—to end this travesty <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoWarWithIran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NoWarWithIran</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithTulsi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#StandWithTulsi</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/scuDP5M0z5\">pic.twitter.com/scuDP5M0z5</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1216496130361417728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 12, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">He sells troops.<br><br>“We have a very good relationship with Saudi Arabia—I said, listen, you’re a very rich country. You want more troops? I’m going to send them to you, but you’ve got to pay us. They’re paying us. They’ve already deposited $1B in the bank.” <a href=\"https://t.co/rc1f7heyCP\">pic.twitter.com/rc1f7heyCP</a></p> Justin Amash (@justinamash) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/justinamash/status/1216054398138376192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nIf the democrats really wanted Trump gone, they would have passed Gabbard’s resolution restoring the constitutional check on Presidential war powers. It’s as if democrats were more focused on looking like they are impeaching Trump than actually impeaching him.\n\n **Gabbard has been harder on Trump than every democrat concerning his foreign policy. The notion that she is “easy on trump” for her very sensible and justified present vote is just a product of the collective delusion brought on by the Russiagate narrative.**\n\nMany democrats did attack Trump for the assassination, after all, it is election season. But most of those same democrats attacking passed the military budget raise for him, and propagated much of the propaganda leading up to it - While Tulsi could not pass the annual defense spending bill [in \"good conscience\"](https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-votes-against-defense-bill-keeps-us-troops-afghanistan#:~:text=Washington%2C%20DC%E2%80%94Today%2C%20Rep.%20Tulsi%20Gabbard%20%28HI-02%29%20voted%20against,concerns%20the%20Congresswoman%20had%20with%20the%20massive%20bill.) and was frequently putting pressure on Trump to refrain from both militaristic and economic  imperialism. Imperialism that both endangers our national security as well as harming civilians in the countries we have tensions with. \n\n>“As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, I fought hard to get many provisions in this year's defense bill to protect Hawai‘i and our country, improve the lives of servicemembers and military families, provide transparency of the devastating humanitarian impact of U.S. sanctions, and address environmental threats. But at a time when many Americans are struggling and suffering, the massive cost of this defense bill at $740.1 billion disproportionately benefits the military industrial complex, continues to escalate the new Cold War and nuclear arms race, and needlessly puts more of our troops’ lives at risk by continuing our decades-long war in Afghanistan. I could not in good conscience vote to pass it,” said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Tulsi was warning about this for months and advocating legislation to prevent it while your favorite Dem was screaming endlessly about goddamn mother F-ing Russian collusion</p>Michael Tracey (@mtracey) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1214728302159712256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 8, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nMeanwhile this is how Trump was reacting,\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The United States just spent Two Trillion Dollars on Military Equipment. We are the biggest and by far the BEST in the World! If Iran attacks an American Base, or any American, we will be sending some of that brand new beautiful equipment their way...and without hesitation!</p> Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1213689342272659456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 5, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nDore said it well when he said,\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmax9bbUeehMwRMgpa4dxNo7mhpgZKEYt3xZWnw2yaLDeH/image.png)\n\nGotta love Dore, hit the nail on the head.\nIf Trump is a fascist nazi dictator you want to impeach, why would you give him a $750,000,000,000 military budget and ignore  legislation to restore the pre 9/11 constitutional norm of needing congressional approval for acts of war?\n\nJimmy Dore uploaded a great video yesterday titled \"[AOC Gaslights For Democrats Over COVID Bail-Out.\"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdWft0MOF4I) where he does a good job of putting the squad, particularly AOC, in a critical light. He even calls Tulsi Gabbard out for having supported it and that is awesome because the whole point to takeaway from this article is that we need to hold our elected officials under scrutiny and ensure accountability. Not even mattering whether Tulsi was wrong or right for supporting what Dore called the largest upwards transfer of wealth in history, she very well could have been wrong, the point is that we need to hold out politicians accountable and vote for who we like the best, based not just on their current rhetoric, but history of action and voting record. \n\nIf I want to vote for Jessie Ventura, or even Gabbard, as a 2024 people's party candidate in a hypothetical future where the Biden2024 crew id shaming everyone to rally behind them to defeat a Trump 2024 campaign, I wouldn't and shouldn't feel any shame for voting with the candidate that best represents me. \n\nThe lesser of two evils dynamic that has ironically fostered the continuation of evil. It functions because of the argument \"Well this person has a better shot, we need to defeat this other evil\" and so the masses are always choosing from people with high amounts of power...in a corrupted system...Remember, voting evil, lesser or not, is still voting evil. Likewise, shaming people who are voting for the person who best reflects how they would ideally be represented is wrong, and its replicating the same dynamic that brought us the current corrupt duopoly where important issues demanding urgent reform don't see any as the years drag by.",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"bernie\",\"sanders\",\"tulsi\",\"gabbard\",\"tulsigabbard\",\"politics\",\"election\",\"fed\"],\"users\":[\"tulsigabbard\",\"kayrosef\",\"mtracey\",\"marcorubio\",\"ambjohnbolton\",\"shepardofcats\",\"justinamash\",\"realdonaldtrump\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeZb4HYW9UABUzC7Da5Wq8qk5WX2yS1fHt1T6XKjjaV1A/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd2ALYmWLaV2ooRePj7FCNR1XW9Esj9PRSevMw4oiHfHN/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdbjfMkyGF7VVPCMxPk4q1CnDSNqCMUdh9rpqDoY7PXJn/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeeXmmaALvdbCis5cjLohAfjh24aKAjJBsViuKCa9FWVo/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmS9QHhQpdDhzNYs6DeGtTQKsnmnqSXSQcuuPYKom5eePP/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQ8bwJs4U1sdZVuG44wWQz4aMvM9QrTDYshhDSEReTZN9/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYhiqLV5k1N1efwEDJgEw8yS8D4UTqPpxYWaJjfFCz1Bk/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcwDaV7FhyvE4RNHi74MFfzw4PEGytfHx63op2HiWyjfK/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmW2gruif9UKcK7XmvqaSkz98UJaNL869RVaR1vwn9P2wm/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmV4jVsaQBh73HRD6bdQ7YVmhs9xVqUHfMgrp9wMDEb36t/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmczWkny3wKhxwsCKQw2UnDTa13p3oTNnkmaC5H8uDGw9N/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQA84hBskjGSsobHbqSpVwWtLiGaz19qMvXZCsedTXjHX/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNaA74hMsULF7JhS4jBjpucQ4FP7RddFT6fqNY6eECUBD/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcDJB8RTnbedz6x2w6PsWuHfCEHstBgNwdAieUZwmGvuS/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc35AiMWhXztHzRmRBsJfP9ocvDvA7fCrqhUsrWJ6hJus/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVXnsXa6XjaEuJ2JnQhoyYTZ1Aqapjcpg7RU66tiJ5sE6/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbHLQxVZprAgRuagxHixYJsPWdwUydtykK29moLznQ1CR/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmanJb6BwCMcbH3KEgzGNLn1nNDW2BS5VLDTv9erRPSWmY/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfLvf77EkU4YLBypZPWMrkLHcPJRxbKkXwG1uq2o8BqTZ/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWNUmF33VgbuxqdsPePqRk9hWpoa9jGrPyw1YEJyte8Rb/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmax9bbUeehMwRMgpa4dxNo7mhpgZKEYt3xZWnw2yaLDeH/image.png\"],\"links\":[\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/ron-paul-calls-tulsi-gabbard-very-best-democratic-candidate\",\"https://thehill.com/policy/finance/96587-ron-paul-says-bernie-sanders-qsold-outq-on-fed-amendment\",\"https://twitter.com/kayrosef/status/1227647723349979137?s=19\",\"https://mcguiremitchell32.medium.com/how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-is-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-one-steemit-ad8fb0fe7e95?sk=2f0be0c38b4cc4fe7a4870b62e7369a7\",\"https://mcguiremitchell32.medium.com/tulsi-gabbard-introduces-emergency-ubi-same-day-fed-announces-1-5-d23ba5f4aa42?sk=c849057477cce0514b430b067dd45a42\",\"https://www.businessinsider.com/gabbard-campaign-3rd-party-run-talks-gary-johnson-offers-help-2020-2\",\"https://libertarianinvestments.com/2019/01/19/would-tulsi-gabbard-be-a-good-president/\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TULSI2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/Q1sHDNwZSy\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1129008856971923456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoWarWithIran?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithTulsi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiWasRight?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/kayrosef/status/1213587705176756226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://theantimedia.com/trump-war-with-iran-closer-than-you-thought/\",\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1214063768847695873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://reason.com/2020/01/04/absent-evidence-of-imminent-attack-on-americans-white-houses-justification-for-killing-iranian-general-collapses/\",\"https://themindunleashed.com/2019/12/new-wikileaks-bombshell-further-shreds-syria-chemical-attack-narrative.html\",\"https://news.yahoo.com/trump-reportedly-told-associates-killed-162634145.html\",\"https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1213463178979483649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://news.antiwar.com/2020/01/13/as-soleimanis-four-embassy-allegation-falls-apart-trump-says-it-doesnt-matter/\",\"https://www.timesofisrael.com/soleimanis-past-actions-were-reason-enough-to-kill-him-trump-says/\",\"https://edition.cnn.com/2002/LAW/11/04/us.assassination.policy/\",\"https://www.newsweek.com/iranian-military-mastermind-leading-battle-recapture-tikrit-isis-311516\",\"https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1214225656088793093?s=19\",\"https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2020/01/05/the-us-government-lies-constantly-and-the-burden-of-proof-is-on-the-accuser/\",\"https://twitter.com/AmbJohnBolton/status/1213044218689720321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://theintercept.com/2020/01/16/david-wurmser-iran-suleimani-iraq-war/\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TrumpsWar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1213198601993646080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://news.antiwar.com/2020/01/05/soleimani-was-in-baghdad-on-mission-for-saudi-peace/\",\"https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-says-us-will-not-leave-iraq-unless-billions-air-base-are-repaid\",\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/897/cosponsors\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/Shepardofcats/status/1214180527751626752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.vox.com/world/2017/8/25/16185936/trump-america-first-afghanistan-war-troops-iraq-generals\",\"https://time.com/4785714/donald-trump-saudi-arabia/\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fhomenews%2Fcampaign%2F464687-2020-democrats-hit-trumps-planned-syria-withdraw\",\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/FydpfhMNVf\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1181984547963101189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1181984550437699584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/scuDP5M0z5\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1216496130361417728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/rc1f7heyCP\",\"https://twitter.com/justinamash/status/1216054398138376192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-votes-against-defense-bill-keeps-us-troops-afghanistan#:~:text=Washington%2C%20DC%E2%80%94Today%2C%20Rep.%20Tulsi%20Gabbard%20%28HI-02%29%20voted%20against,concerns%20the%20Congresswoman%20had%20with%20the%20massive%20bill.\",\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1214728302159712256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1213689342272659456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdWft0MOF4I\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "18bfffe3b22f5f7f1ff1dbf92ee8f4b430067f81",
  "block": 48799853,
  "trx_in_block": 1,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-21T20:10:18",
  "op": [
    "account_update2",
    {
      "account": "mitchellmcguire",
      "json_metadata": "",
      "posting_json_metadata": "{\"profile\":{\"profile_image\":\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQbukCugvdaVvxbNyxxDk8XmfN3DNMSVoDv7GGxNjBXMN/yinandyang.jpg\",\"cover_image\":\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZjoUqJesYKHcPRXCNHrEwDT6WbBanz32Hn2m3U6JbUgQ/Truth%20quote.jpg\",\"name\":\"Mitchell McGuire\",\"about\":\"Free Assange. Bring an end to the Oligarchy, the MIC, & the entire empire. Question everything. Even yourself. Be open to change.\",\"location\":\"NC\",\"version\":2}}",
      "extensions": []
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "8f3e0535b0de81fae2a1f0ec3a8b67013997a2b7",
  "block": 48765916,
  "trx_in_block": 9,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-20T15:20:54",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "gruntprime",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "bernie-vs-tulsi-how-to-identify-controlled-opposition-part-3",
      "weight": 9000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "ec45c2c2eb18edb3604ef737b389fb78cc80e2af",
  "block": 48765907,
  "trx_in_block": 6,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-20T15:20:24",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "gruntalpha",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "bernie-vs-tulsi-how-to-identify-controlled-opposition-part-3",
      "weight": 9000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "b082a09e0a903dd3dcf38ce4bf24a633f87e5641",
  "block": 48765827,
  "trx_in_block": 2,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-20T15:16:15",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "limka",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "bernie-vs-tulsi-how-to-identify-controlled-opposition-part-3",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "b1762459dc64d9f3f3f15d5ec103e1004ec4b64b",
  "block": 48765825,
  "trx_in_block": 7,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-20T15:16:09",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "politics",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "bernie-vs-tulsi-how-to-identify-controlled-opposition-part-3",
      "title": "Bernie vs Tulsi: How to Identify Controlled Opposition Part 3",
      "body": "# Bernie vs Tulsi: How to Identify Controlled Opposition Part 3\n\n## On the Issues\n---\n\n## Big Tech\n### Tulsi: Tulsi sued Google for $50 million. She attacked big tech censorship and interference. Twitter constantly removes likes from her tweets, including every one she has made in support of Assange.\n**But Big Tech interference doesn’t just threaten to suppress her voice, but the voices of any supporter who the company deems worthy of censorship. I, along with many Tulsi supporters I interact with, have had to re-like her “Queen of warmongerers” [tweet](https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1185289626409406464) countless times as have many [others](https://twitter.com/SarcasmStardust/status/1213289430674489345)**. If a presidential candidate can be censored, anybody can. \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">(1/2) If anyone needed further evidence that Facebook is censoring political speech, they provided that evidence themselves by deleting Elizabeth Warren’s post calling for breaking up Facebook and Amazon...</p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1105909278446104576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 13, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">(2/2) Facebook proved the charge that they are undermining Free Speech. If Facebook will censor my speech, then they will censor yours as well. This is why we must stand up for free speech—whether we agree with the content of that speech or not.</p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1105909281042415617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 13, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\nWhen CEO Jack Dorsey gave a max donation to Gabbard after the first debate (which she won) and people were criticizing Dorsey for the donation, Michael Tracey joked that jack was a \"Assad-loving white nationalist compromised by Putin\". It is worth noting this was Tulsi's only billionaire donor. Trace would go on to say \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I&#39;ve interviewed Tulsi about social media censorship several times and she&#39;s maintained that Jack&#39;s company should be treated like a public utility and subject to greater government regulation, so I&#39;m not sure what the conspiracy is supposed to be here</p>Michael Tracey (@mtracey) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1150988406266236928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 16, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\nContinuing, \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">If there&#39;s any reason to be suspicious, it&#39;s that Jack is a billionaire, but of course that&#39;s generally not what people are suspicious of: it&#39;s the usual agglomeration of Russia/Assad/stealth right-winger nonsense</p> Michael Tracey (@mtracey) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1150988867442544641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 16, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\n### Bernie:\n**In the first debate, after Warren presented and defended the idea of “breaking up big tech”, Sander’s had called for anti-trust regulators to  “take on these huge monopolies”... but he doesn’t seem to be willing to take them on himself.** As **[The Hill reported](https://thehill.com/policy/technology/466008-democrats-wrangle-over-whether-to-break-up-big-tech-in-debate-first)**, “***Even Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a fellow progressive who has made opposition to concentrated corporate power a centerpiece of his campaign, did not explicitly say he is behind Warren's plan.***”. Sander’s partial support of Warren in calling for the break up of Big Tech shouldn’t hold much weight when Warren would later [tweet](https://twitter.com/ewarren/status/1222550235861463040?s=19), \n\n>*“The stakes of this election are too high. We need to fight the spread of false information that disempowers voters and undermines democracy. I’ll do my part—and* **I’m calling on my fellow candidates and** ***big tech companies to do their part, too.”***\n\n**[Sanders has specifically called for Facebook to do more to combat “Russian misinformation”](https://thehill.com/policy/technology/478140-sanders-hits-facebook-republicans-in-response-to-alleged-russian-hack-of) .** In his statement, Bernie said the following:\n\n>\"The 2020 election is likely to be the most consequential election in modern American history, and I am alarmed by new reports that Russia recently hacked into the Ukrainian gas company at the center of the impeachment trial, as well as Russia’s plans to once again meddle in our elections and in our democracy,\"\n\n>\"***After our intelligence agencies unanimously agreed that Russia interfered in the 2016 election***, including with thousands of paid ads on Facebook, the ***New York Times now reports that Russia likely represents the biggest threat of election meddling in 2020, including through disinformation campaigns, promoting hatred, hacking into voting systems, and by exploiting the political divisions sewn by Donald Trump.*** Meanwhile, the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, has shown again and again his total disinterest in taking even basic steps to stand up to Russian interference.\"\n\n>“It is nothing short of reckless for Facebook to continue enabling and profiting from election interference done through advertising that contains lies, falsehoods, and misleading information,\" the Vermont senator said.\n\n***Ro Khanna, who Bernie appointed as top advisor to his campaign in febuary of 2019***, would go on to tweet:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I made it clear that there is zero tolerance for Russian interference. <br><br>We need to trust our intelligence agencies, and tech companies must prevent disinformation and propaganda campaigns. <a href=\"https://t.co/OXKFUKjKIM\">https://t.co/OXKFUKjKIM</a></p> Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/RoKhanna/status/1231010597380206592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 22, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nWe should **\"Trust** ***our intelligence agencies, and tech companies***?\" To ***\"Prevent disinformation and propaganda campaigns\"***? **This is either ignorant incompetence or malicious manipulation.** *We should trust the CIA and other intelligence agencies with a long history of lies and propaganda campaigns of their own, to exert control over the flow of information on the media platforms used by the mass majority of the public*? Why are Bernie and his surrogates normalizing and encouraging such Orwellian measures? \n\n*Sure*, he has not condemned the big tech community for censorship as Tulsi has. He certainly is not Suing Google for 50 million.  But the worst part is that he and his campaign did not keep to neutral apathy to censorship, which is bad enough, but **Sanders and his surrogates literally advocated and called on Big Tech companies to do more, in cooperation with our intelligence agencies,** ***as if they were not interfering enough already.*** Again, being silent on such an important issue to our democracy is bad enough as a democratic candidate, but quite actually pushing for the issue to be normalized and open to greater abuse is  in stark contrast to Gabbard.\n\n---\n\n## Assange\n### Tulsi: The day Assange was arrested she would [tell CNN's Jake taper](https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/11/politics/tulsi-gabbard-julian-assange-cnntv/index.html),\n> ***\"I think what's happening here is, unfortunately, it is some form of retaliation coming from the government saying, 'Hey, this is what happens when you release information that we don't want you to release,'*** \" *Gabbard said on \"The Lead.\"* ***\"And I think that's why this is such a dangerous and slippery slope, not only for journalists, not only for those in the media, but also for every American that our government can and has the power to kind of lay down the hammer to say, 'Be careful, be quiet and fall in line, otherwise we have the means to come after you.' \"***\n\nThat same day she  would also tweet out, \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The arrest of <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/JulianAssange?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#JulianAssange</a> is meant to send a message to all Americans and journalists: be quiet, behave, toe the line. Or you will pay the price.</p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1116446982342529024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 11, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\nOther (censored) tweets on Assange would include\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Charging Assange under the Espionage Act will have a srs chilling effect on our most fundamental rights of freedom of speech &amp; freedom of the press. Every American—certainly every journalist—must strongly condemn this anti-democratic act by the Trump Admin<a href=\"https://t.co/4JkBGJCFk9\">https://t.co/4JkBGJCFk9</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1132026399605362691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 24, 2019</a></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Trump’s decision to charge Assange under the Espionage Act will have a serious chilling effect on our freedom of speech and freedom of the press. It also undermines our democracy by keeping crucial information from the American people that they deserve to know. <a href=\"https://t.co/D3olp2JS4J\">pic.twitter.com/D3olp2JS4J</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1136260129681108999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 5, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\n**Assange is a critical issue for first amendment rights, [with the government outright saying first amendment rights don't apply to foreigners](https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2020/01/23/wikileaks-editor-us-is-saying-first-amendment-doesnt-apply-to-foreigners-in-assange-case) in defense of Assange's prosecution**, ***admitting it IS an issue of freedom of press.*** More than that, it is a human rights violation. Censoring, intimidating, or jailing journalists is an issue of freedom of press. \n\n***Psychopathically manufacturing consent by defamation and slander in order to get away with caging someone mentally torturing them for telling truths about the government that the government doesn't like...this is an issue of freedom for all of the \"free world\"*** along with everyone else. While Assange was an Australian citizen, he is being tried for breaking an American law, but as referenced above, its been argued  in court for his extradition case that the freedom of press doesn't extend to him.\n\n>\"WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson gave a brief statement to the press after the latest court hearing for Julian Assange’s extradition case in London today, saying the Trump administration is arguing that the First Amendment of the US Constitution doesn’t provide press freedom protection to foreign nationals like Assange.\" \n\n>'***We have now learned from submissions and affidavits presented by the United States to this court that they do not consider foreign nationals to have a First Amendment protection,'*** Hrafnsson said.\n\n>'*Now let that sink in for a second,*' Hrafnsson continued. '***At the same time that the US government is chasing journalists all over the world, they claim they have extra-territorial reach, they have decided that all foreign journalists which include many of you here, have no protection under the First Amendment of the United States. So that goes to show the gravity of this case. This is not about Julian Assange, it’s about press freedom.'*** ”\n\nThis is another way of the US saying, \"while our jurisdiction spreads globally and American laws are defacto international laws, but only our citizens can have rights to attempt to protect themselves from such massive overreach. And even then... these rights are privileges, and we are constantly working on convincing the majority to give consent to these rights being stripped. Sometimes we just say fuck it and call shit classified and tell the public its not in the interest of \"national security\" to let them know that their rights are being infringed, or their taxes funding unabated war crimes. If it weren't for those damn meddling kids like Assange and Snowden then we would have gotten away with it too. No, but seriously, they will be punished and made an example of, American citizen or not.\"\n\n**If governmental agencies can turn a hero into a villian and get away with slowly torturing him for years, they can get away with anything -  especially with mainstream media and big tech a their disposal to help manufacture consent. We need systems such as Wikileaks to bring the truth to light on these corruptible institutions**, ***for without them, there would be no medium for whistleblowers to safely share information that is in the public’s best interest to be public. We would be in the dark***.\n\n**Assange’s prosecution is a precedent being set that anyone who serves as a medium for sources leaking information**, ***a crucial aspect of journalism***, **can be deprived of their human rights and liberty for reporting the truth**. When you boil it down its really as simple as that. Assange is being made an example of, and his prosecution represents more than just one man. There is a reason Assange supporters will be heard to say \"***We are all Assange***\".\n\n\"Now what does Bernie have to say on Assange?\" > - a democratic voter might have asked during the primary season.\n### Bernie: * Crickets Chirp * ...  and *Chirp * ... and *chirp*...indef.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Tulsi Gabbard is the only candidate who has unequivocally and specifically said she would drop charges against <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Assange?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Assange</a> so we can have a <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreeAssange?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FreeAssange</a> <br>Demand your candidate, Reps and Senators do the same or vote for someone in who will.<a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiForPresident?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TulsiForPresident</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/US93B6HZVz\">https://t.co/US93B6HZVz</a></p>Constituent 🌺🎗️⏳ (@808constituent) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/808constituent/status/1224106409614163968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 2, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Tulsi Gabbard strongly and publicly supports whistleblowers such as Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning. She says she will drop all charges, and that whistleblowers should be protected. Bernie Sanders has shown himself afraid to take such stances.</p> Terrence McNulty (@TerrenceMcNulty) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TerrenceMcNulty/status/1222807949195862017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 30, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nThe Hill would publish an articled titled, ***\"[Sanders’ Snowden Response Proves He Doesn’t Want a 'Revolution'](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-would-make_b_8297414)\"***. The author, Evan Greer would write:\n\n>\"Last night at the Democratic presidential debate, leftist favorite Bernie Sanders clarified his feelings about National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden.\n\n>'*I think Snowden played a very important role in educating the American public ... he did break the law, and I think there should be a penalty to that,*' ***Sanders said***...\n\n> ... To read between the lines: Bernie thinks Edward Snowden did the right thing, but hey, laws are laws. If elected, though, it sounds like he’ll make sure Snowden gets a really nice jail cell.\n\n>Bernie was quick to point out that what Snowden did was illegal, and that he should face the consequences for it. Instead of calling for stronger legal protections for whistleblowers, or offering to pardon Snowden if elected, he called for the former NSA contractor to come home and face trial in a country with a dodgy record of imprisoning and prosecuting whistleblowers, dissidents, activists and journalists. ...\n\n> ... Sanders has based his campaign on the premise that the United States’ political and economic systems are so flawed that we need a “revolution,” but when a thorny question like Snowden comes up it becomes clear that what he’s really calling for is a changing of the guard.\n\nWhile the rest of the article is pure gold, I already have quoted too much from it. Moving on to hammer in the point, Prominent Assange advocacy group, Action4Assange, would publish a piece titled ***\"[Bernie Sanders’ Silence On Assange Raises Serious Questions](https://action4assange.com/bernie-silent-on-assange/)\"***. Steve Poikonen, who authored the piece, wrote that ***\"Bernie, to the casual observer, is THE candidate for the average American who has long suffered under unfettered capitalism and a media complicit in perpetuating false narratives in support of the status quo.***\n\n***So why the hell won’t Sanders say Julian Assange’s name out loud? \"***\n\n>\"Action 4 Assange’s own Taylor Hudak published the **[first and only complete list of presidential candidate statements on Julian Assange](https://action4assange.com/wheredotheystand2020/)**. ***The totality of Bernie’s remarks are contained within this tweet, written 44 days after Julian was dragged from the Ecuadorian Embassy*** in London\"\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXqgELpZ5vFhbejZr8QcpEy1NAegxFN5dNAk5w3YKf1CD/image.png)\n\nPoikonen would strongly conclude the piece by writing, *\"Bernie Sanders has made Medicare For All a cornerstone of his campaign. His apparent refusal to comment on Assange leaves a deeply concerning question to fill that silent space.* ***Are you willing to trade press freedom for health care? \"***\n\nOne last piece before moving on to the next section,  lets look at how Sanders has treated Chelsea Manning. Andre Damon would publish a piece for WSWS titled, ***\"[The guilty silence over the jailing of Chelsea Manning](https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/03/18/mann-m18.html)\"***. Damon would write:\n\n>\"It has been ten days since a federal judge imprisoned whistleblower Chelsea Manning for refusing to testify before the secret grand jury in Virginia, which is preparing an indictment against WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange.\n\n>***None of the dozens of professional moralists employed by the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal who make it their business to publicize 'human rights' violations*** to promote US imperialist interests ***have written a single column protesting the imprisonment of Manning***.\n\n>**The Democratic Party has likewise said nothing**. ***There has been no protest from any significant Democratic politician, including from the party’s so-called “progressive” wing. Bernie Sanders***, **Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar have not spoken in Manning’s defense**. Phone calls and emails by the WSWS asking for clarification to the offices of Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez were not returned.\n\n>The complicity of the Democratic Party in the jailing of Manning is bound up with its pro-imperialist politics. ***The Democrats have waged their opposition to Trump on the most right-wing basis possible, criticizing the administration for not taking a hard enough position against Russia, denouncing any retreat from war in the Middle East, and elevating the intelligence agencies into supposed paragons of democracy.***\" ....\n\nDamon would tie the Manning issue in with censorship, circling back \n\n>\"**In the name of fighting 'fake news,' dominant sections of the political establishment—led by the intelligence agencies and the Democratic Party—have demanded the suppression of left-wing, critical and independent online media.** ***The technology monopolies have been enlisted by the state to police and censor oppositional statements and political viewpoints.***\n\n>**Sanders’ silence on the jailing of Manning**—*and his silence on the continued persecution of Assange*—**is of particular significance, as the Senator has ample cause to defend Wikileaks**, given that ***the organization exposed the fact that the Democratic National Committee sought to rig the 2016 primary and disenfranchise his supporters within the Democratic Party.***\"\n\nThe point is that Sanders has not only been disgustingly silent on the issue of whistleblower protection, but he's even played a proactive role in the Russagate narrative used to smear not only Assange, Snowden, and Manning... *but his own campaign and movement. When the \"Russia is boosting Sanders campaign\" narrative ran though the new cycle, he didn't defend the integrity of his movement and campaign, he ran with it and told Putin to stay out. Maybe it was smart tactically, I'm not an expert political strategist. But it felt wrong. \n\nHe has even promoted the idea of big tech censoring in the name of battling \"Russian disinformation campaigns\", which ultimately winds up hurting information and activist campaigns on a plethora of issues including the persecution of whistleblowers that Sanders is so frustratingly silent on. Hell, censorship would come for his own supporter base, make no mistake about it. So no Bernie voters, Tulsi supporters who valued freedom of speech and press didn't owe you or your candidate a vote. You and Bernie were expected to earn it by taking up the right side of history and defending our freedoms of press and speech. \n\n**Now lets move on to some foreign policy.** You know, *the area of policy that the president has virtually total control over, and little to no checks and balance on anymore?* Progressives need to be reminded that the president can have all bills stopped by congress, and executive orders only go so far constitutionally. ***But nobody can tell the president that he cannot, lets say, end sanctions, or withdraw troops***. **The Commander in Chief is almost indisputably the most important role of the president**. *So* lets take a look at the differences between Gabbard and Sanders on how they approach foreign policy.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I love bernie, but **most of his supporters pay little attention to his foreign policy. Only touting the few times he gets it right (Iraq/Iran) but ignoring the many times he gets it wrong.** <br>As president, he has way more power over foreign policy than domestic</p> Cory Scott 🌺 (@coryascott) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/coryascott/status/1228870383723372546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 16, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n---\n\n## Venezuela\n\n### Tulsi:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The United States needs to stay out of Venezuela. Let the Venezuelan people determine their future. We don&#39;t want other countries to choose our leaders--so we have to stop trying to choose theirs.</p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1088531713649713153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 24, 2019</a></blockquote>\n\nNow lets see what Bernie tweeted the same exact day Gabbard tweeted the above.\n\n### Bernie:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Maduro government has waged a violent crackdown on Venezuelan civil society, violated the constitution by dissolving the National Assembly and was re-elected last year in an election many observers said was fraudulent. The economy is a disaster and millions are migrating. 1/3</p> Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/SenSanders/status/1088573769243914240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 24, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\nThe thread continues:\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmefHbpnkei2bbqefyj62DJeR5qW5oL4k3nAJCZcvztc8m/image.png)\n\nNow let it be said that while the last tweet in the Sanders thread above sounds anti-interventionist, the first two certainly didn't and sought to be complicit in the \"Maduro is an evil dictator\" narrative. Likewise he has done nothing to condemn against the starvation sanctions waged against Venezuela's economy, particularly the oil industry, which compromised more than 95% of the country's exports at the time - the lifeline of the entire country's economy and its ability to import food and medicine. Now lets go back to what Tulsi has said on Venezuela.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It’s about the oil … again. <br><br>Bolton just exposed real motive for intervention in Venezuela: &quot;We&#39;re in conversation with major American companies now...It would make a difference if we could have American companies produce the oil in Venezuela. We both have a lot at stake here.&quot;</p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1090079510291197952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 29, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\nBernie's foreign policy wasn't exactly on the right side of the issue...accusing Trump of not doing enough. \n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVb8TDoTzcrbmzUksZkfF5UGFepBAg1bwcfo3Wez2WMPD/image.png)\n\nApparently massive sanctions turned to full  blown embargo and seizing all of the Venezuelan government's assets they have control over, including CITGO, wasn't enough.\n\n***What does Sanders have to say about sanctions?*** Lets ask his twitter account.\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc3XZ2YttxBaDnFLVdZpSvCCWmbvKGSgyprWgaDbH4hEa/image.png)\n\nIn the short history of his twitter account's usage of the word \"sanctions\", he mostly is supporting their use against Russia and North Korea. While he has made statements against their use on Iran, he has said nothing on Venezuelan or Syrian sanctions. Not a word. And while twitter isn't the only way to make statements, I have not once heard or seen Bernie condemn sanctions, in all my years of asking Sanders supporter's for a case of such. Regardless, if it's that hard to dig up....  Now, here is what Gabbard has said on sanctions.\n\nIn the context of Venezuela, she tweeted:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">“Coercion, whether military or economic, must never be used to seek a change in government in a sovereign state. The use of sanctions by outside powers to overthrow an elected government is in violation of all norms of international law,” warns UN expert. <a href=\"https://t.co/MwMsjwvHhZ\">https://t.co/MwMsjwvHhZ</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1091336707004198912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 1, 2019</a></blockquote>\n\nRegarding sanctions in general, she has also tweeted:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Too many politicians think the only way the US can be “engaged” with other countries is by blowing them up and strangling them with economic sanctions. I will end long-standing regime change policy &amp; lead with a foreign policy based on negotiations, diplomacy, &amp; cooperation. <a href=\"https://t.co/LPe1NDPUAp\">pic.twitter.com/LPe1NDPUAp</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1144654935453249537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 28, 2019</a></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">... are achieving the stated goal or undermining it. Too often US sanction policies are made based on emotion, a whim, or political motives, and without a clear objective. They end up most negatively impacting innocent civilians who struggle to merely survive.</p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1288248191952007170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 28, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Everything we do should have a clear objective &amp; oversight to make sure our policies are achieving that objective. I passed a bipartisan amendment into the House NDAA that would mandate an annual report on the humanitarian impacts of sanctions and assess whether US sanctions ... <a href=\"https://t.co/yMipQfkPJi\">pic.twitter.com/yMipQfkPJi</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1288248189578076160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 28, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nShe has more tweets condemning sanctions but I think the point has been reiterated enough for now. It is worth noting, its not just twitter where she speaks against sanctions. For those who listened to her speaking during her campaign, sanctions often came up in her dialogue, and she was very vocal on the issue. Sanders, in contrast, was not. To wrap up this comparison between the two and their tones on Venezuela, lets look at one more tweet from Sanders and look at a a few more from Gabbard, who has more statements to draw from.\n\n### Sanders:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The people of Venezuela are enduring a serious humanitarian crisis. The Maduro government must put the needs of its people first, allow humanitarian aid into the country, and refrain from violence against protesters.</p> Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/SenSanders/status/1099380342018912257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 23, 2019</a></blockquote> \n \n### Tulsi:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Oil lobbyists have “unprecedented access” to Trump’s administration—meanwhile Pence/Bolton continue their crusade for regime change in Venezuela, the world’s richest oil reserves. The height of swamp politics. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/PeopleBeforeProfits?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#PeopleBeforeProfits</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/ServiceBeforeSelf?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ServiceBeforeSelf</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/jlbip5u8tV\">https://t.co/jlbip5u8tV</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1113839395042410499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 4, 2019</a></blockquote>\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTfSsx8ktAt8XoHw5bbqafT3QJEPhsaGJWVssMeh6XgHH/image.png)\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The root cause of mass immigration on our southern border is our history of US military intervention in Latin America that left countries destroyed. Before we talk about a wall, we need to end our ongoing threats of intervention - this time in Venezuela. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SOTU</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1092977776066527232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 6, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Throughout history, every time the US topples a foreign country’s dictator/government, the outcome has been disastrous. Civil war/military intervention in Venezuela will wreak death &amp; destruction to Venezuelan people, and increase tensions that threaten our national security. <a href=\"https://t.co/vQBdLUAyAc\">pic.twitter.com/vQBdLUAyAc</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1127926215438770177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 13, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\n**To conclude, Bernie was silent on condemning sanctions** and ***while he said he didn't support interventionism at the same time he supported the interventionist narrative used to justify intervention and was silent on calling out economic warfare via sanctions as a form of intervention***. Gabbard, on the other hand, was straightforward in condemning all forms of interference in Venezuela's democracy.\n\n*When Tulsi says stay out of Venezuela, she doesn’t just mean militarily,* but also **refraining from seeking to influence regime change through economic warfare, mostly crippling sanctions,** ***which many have appropriately referred to as economic terrorism, as they undeniably target and starve the general population, not the high-ranking bureaucrats the establishment is seeking to oust***. **As Caitlin Johnstone points out in her article,** ***“[Starvation Sanctions are Worse Than Overt Warfare](https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2019/06/23/starvation-sanctions-are-worse-than-overt-warfare/)”***, **there is little accountability and sympathy for the tragedies brought on by economic Warfare,** \n\n>*“Yet these deaths have received virtually no mainstream media coverage, and Americans, while they strongly oppose attacking Iran militarily, have had very little to say about Trump’s attacks on the nation’s economy. The economy which people use to feed their children, to care for their elderly and their sick.*\n\n>*I am not saying that starvation sanctions are more destructive or deadly than overt military force in and of themselves; what I am saying is that the overall effect is worse, because there’s no public accountability for them and because they deliberately target civilians.*\n\nWhen economic warfare is waged against a population, it is almost always due to a high level of support for the government, which Western powers are trying to erode, so they enact sanctions intending to put the population into such a state of desperation that they feel they have no choice but to submit to the will of US imperialism and overthrow their own government in order to put an end to, or even just alleviate, the country’s suffering.\n\n## Syria\n\n### Tulsi \nI have already comprehensively covered Tulsi's position on Syria, in an article titled \"[How and Why Tulsi Gabbard is Held to a Higher Standard (Part One)](https://medium.com/@mcguiremitchell32/how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-is-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-one-steemit-ad8fb0fe7e95?source=friends_link&sk=2f0be0c38b4cc4fe7a4870b62e7369a7)\".\n\nTo briefly showcase Tulsi's position, let me reference some \"key points\" from her official website's page on Syria.\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVdrzghAN8FgM59tneWNWeLtMM5fyfzw5TY2YTNn3tkai/image.png)\n \n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTSKMCQPQcvzmjYJi7s6fyANbPXxEZ8LQXJad74eUYn57/image.png)\n\n### Bernie:\n\nNow let us take a rough look at Bernie's stance on Syria, starting with an [official statement on *his* website](https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-us-missile-strike-in-syria).\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmU631DS6d8ZL6iiDfMYSg7BUC8hXDBaLmtZJXKky6msrD/image.png)\n\nHis call for the international community to do something about the crisis we as a country have facilitated by funding jihadi insurgents for years is in stark contrast to Gabbard's reminders that we had been funding Jihadi rebels linked to al-Qaeda and that it would be better to do nothing than to further fuel the civil war. Hell, she even proposed a bill called the \"[Stop Arming Terrorists Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/608)\" which has 14 cosponsors backing it at the moment of writing.\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZt1AvwD5rk4fN7ioD6xM3djBT6XEGmS8rzxaXPyQ4bCR/image.png)\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We were all lied to. We were told that Saddam had WMD, was working w/ Al Qaeda &amp; that this posed a threat to the American people. But not only have we not gone after Al Qaeda, they are stronger than they were on 9/11 <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TULSI2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TULSI2020</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/DemDebate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#DemDebate</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/cl7xcK02rV\">https://t.co/cl7xcK02rV</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/ckdQvIQMp8\">pic.twitter.com/ckdQvIQMp8</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1156770893386924032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 1, 2019</a></blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@realDonaldTrump</a> instead of going to war with Russia and Syria in order to protect the al-Qaeda-Turkish alliance, you should focus on the war against the Coronavirus. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithTulsi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#StandWithTulsi</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/Uk7TGeF1km\">pic.twitter.com/Uk7TGeF1km</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1234100826676908036?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 1, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nThe point ultimately of this part is to say that Bernie is not only a weak anti-interventionist, but is really an interventionist posing as an anti interventionist.\nHere is [Senate resolution 85 of the 112th congress](https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-resolution/85/cosponsors?searchResultViewType=expanded), sponsored on March 1st, 2011. The same day, it would be cosponsored by Bernie Sanders along with 9 other senators, then go on to pass the senate. This bill would be the formal initiation of the overthrow of Ghaddafi. \n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUSZwx7UehTkFX8AqpQe65VCd1tp4HQwvGJB2XyeZBgs4/image.png)\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTM2WtztYN5o7ySQrg21oLEDAZBFDRjP4Fozou9SFY1ng/image.png)\n\nGabbard Supporter's, many of which are disenfranchised ex-Bernie supporters, have made numerous graphics to give a visual representation of what could be called Bernie's \"98%\" effect, where Bernie and his supporters focus on the few times he got it right, but neglect to acknowledge the times he procedurally voted with the establishment. Two of these graphics can be seen below.\n\n\n![IMG_20201120_075625.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQELm6jsBEjavF3UqdqJ4ez2adEt8JW1uQ6voV39UvcZ8/IMG_20201120_075625.jpg)\n\n![IMG_20201119_131822.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWfzzUD2Lb9W4guy6s13ne3CcrymyDNsENKzZvHXqm3P1/IMG_20201119_131822.jpg)\n\n*If Bernie could not assimilate Tulsi’s progressive stances into his own platform*, ***why should Tulsi supporters have assimilated into Bernie’s camp when Bernie refused to fight for us and the issues we care about***? While Tulsi was on par with Bernie’s domestic issues regarding healthcare and education, **Bernie failed to meet her on advocating for freedom of speech on social media by challenging big tech censorship**, or ***for freedom of press*** **by supporting Assange**, *nor did he on challenging intervention and sanctions in Syria, Venezuela, and Iran*...just to name a few key issues. \n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmT86Ng6vhQCnVXMKY7Fa3jAEuiM4c7fuCLmaWxHK2kMtj/image.png)\n\nThe end of this piece will finish with part 4",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"politics\",\"tulsi\",\"bernie\",\"election\",\"gabbard\",\"sanders\",\"dnc\",\"campaign\"],\"users\":[\"tulsigabbard\",\"mtracey\",\"rokhanna\",\"terrencemcnulty\",\"coryascott\",\"sensanders\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXqgELpZ5vFhbejZr8QcpEy1NAegxFN5dNAk5w3YKf1CD/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmefHbpnkei2bbqefyj62DJeR5qW5oL4k3nAJCZcvztc8m/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVb8TDoTzcrbmzUksZkfF5UGFepBAg1bwcfo3Wez2WMPD/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc3XZ2YttxBaDnFLVdZpSvCCWmbvKGSgyprWgaDbH4hEa/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTfSsx8ktAt8XoHw5bbqafT3QJEPhsaGJWVssMeh6XgHH/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVdrzghAN8FgM59tneWNWeLtMM5fyfzw5TY2YTNn3tkai/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTSKMCQPQcvzmjYJi7s6fyANbPXxEZ8LQXJad74eUYn57/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmU631DS6d8ZL6iiDfMYSg7BUC8hXDBaLmtZJXKky6msrD/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZt1AvwD5rk4fN7ioD6xM3djBT6XEGmS8rzxaXPyQ4bCR/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUSZwx7UehTkFX8AqpQe65VCd1tp4HQwvGJB2XyeZBgs4/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTM2WtztYN5o7ySQrg21oLEDAZBFDRjP4Fozou9SFY1ng/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQELm6jsBEjavF3UqdqJ4ez2adEt8JW1uQ6voV39UvcZ8/IMG_20201120_075625.jpg\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWfzzUD2Lb9W4guy6s13ne3CcrymyDNsENKzZvHXqm3P1/IMG_20201119_131822.jpg\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmT86Ng6vhQCnVXMKY7Fa3jAEuiM4c7fuCLmaWxHK2kMtj/image.png\"],\"links\":[\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1185289626409406464\",\"https://twitter.com/SarcasmStardust/status/1213289430674489345\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1105909278446104576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1105909281042415617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1150988406266236928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1150988867442544641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://thehill.com/policy/technology/466008-democrats-wrangle-over-whether-to-break-up-big-tech-in-debate-first\",\"https://twitter.com/ewarren/status/1222550235861463040?s=19\",\"https://thehill.com/policy/technology/478140-sanders-hits-facebook-republicans-in-response-to-alleged-russian-hack-of\",\"https://t.co/OXKFUKjKIM\",\"https://twitter.com/RoKhanna/status/1231010597380206592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/11/politics/tulsi-gabbard-julian-assange-cnntv/index.html\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/JulianAssange?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1116446982342529024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/4JkBGJCFk9\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1132026399605362691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/D3olp2JS4J\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1136260129681108999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2020/01/23/wikileaks-editor-us-is-saying-first-amendment-doesnt-apply-to-foreigners-in-assange-case\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Assange?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreeAssange?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiForPresident?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/US93B6HZVz\",\"https://twitter.com/808constituent/status/1224106409614163968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TerrenceMcNulty/status/1222807949195862017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-would-make_b_8297414\",\"https://action4assange.com/bernie-silent-on-assange/\",\"https://action4assange.com/wheredotheystand2020/\",\"https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/03/18/mann-m18.html\",\"https://twitter.com/coryascott/status/1228870383723372546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1088531713649713153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/SenSanders/status/1088573769243914240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1090079510291197952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/MwMsjwvHhZ\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1091336707004198912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/LPe1NDPUAp\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1144654935453249537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1288248191952007170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/yMipQfkPJi\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1288248189578076160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/SenSanders/status/1099380342018912257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/PeopleBeforeProfits?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/ServiceBeforeSelf?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/jlbip5u8tV\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1113839395042410499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1092977776066527232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/vQBdLUAyAc\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1127926215438770177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2019/06/23/starvation-sanctions-are-worse-than-overt-warfare/\",\"https://medium.com/@mcguiremitchell32/how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-is-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-one-steemit-ad8fb0fe7e95?source=friends_link&sk=2f0be0c38b4cc4fe7a4870b62e7369a7\",\"https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-us-missile-strike-in-syria\",\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/608\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TULSI2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/DemDebate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/cl7xcK02rV\",\"https://t.co/ckdQvIQMp8\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1156770893386924032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithTulsi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/Uk7TGeF1km\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1234100826676908036?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-resolution/85/cosponsors?searchResultViewType=expanded\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "cfac72d6e5ba76962e9468d49fc50ca46aa48007",
  "block": 48707844,
  "trx_in_block": 4,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-18T14:01:36",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "tulsigabbard",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "bernie-vs-tulsi-how-to-identify-controlled-opposition",
      "title": "Bernie vs Tulsi: How to Identify Controlled Opposition",
      "body": "@@ -40044,9 +40044,8 @@\n ext part\n-%0A\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\",\"tags\":[\"election\",\"tulsi\",\"gabbard\",\"asset\",\"campaign\",\"smear\",\"battle\",\"biden\"],\"users\":[\"gottabernnow\",\"abewilliamsdp\",\"wmur9\",\"lee\",\"girlygrrrl\",\"benjaminnorton\",\"lukewearechange\",\"mtracey\",\"ventuckyspaz\",\"nomorewars2\",\"tulsigabbard\",\"nikocsfb\"],\"links\":[\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2017%2F11%2F02%2Fex-dnc-chair-reveals-how-clinton-rigged-dem-primary%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fberniesanders%2Fstatus%2F1100209415796523009\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.inquisitr.com%2F5785301%2Ftulsi-gabbard-pledge-democratic-party-nominee%2Famp%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.in%2Fentry%2Fbernie-supporters-irresponsible-oppose-joe-biden_n_5e964b2ac5b65eae709bd0b4%3Fri18n%3Dtrue\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fpolitics%2Fbiden-most-progressive-president-fdr-sanders\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F2020%2F01%2F21%2Fbernie-sanders-apologizes-joe-biden-over-corruption-op-ed%2F4528516002%2F\",\"https://twitter.com/GottaBernNow/status/1229610628697845760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tulsi2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/abewilliamsdp/status/1205333015951552517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FWMUR9%2Fstatus%2F1219761641706926082%3Fs%3D19\",\"https://twitter.com/WMUR9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/BernieSanders?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/FITN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/nhpolitics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/AdamSextonWMUR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/aKm0XaQiAd\",\"https://twitter.com/WMUR9/status/1219761641706926082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fblogs%2Fballot-box%2Fdem-primaries%2F289323-sanders-formally-nominated-for-president\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Fstoryline%2F2016-conventions%2Fwasserman-schultz-gets-booed-florida-convention-breakfast-n616161\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nydailynews.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fdonna-brazile-finally-admits-giving-debate-questions-clinton-article-1.3002221\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fwanderlustyogi%2Fstatus%2F1171024544905269248%3Fs%3D19\",\"https://twitter.com/Lee_Devious/status/1224086430600835077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fobserver.com%2F2017%2F08%2Fcourt-admits-dnc-and-debbie-wasserman-schulz-rigged-primaries-against-sanders%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnews%2Fthe-fix%2Fwp%2F2017%2F11%2F02%2Fex-dnc-chair-goes-at-the-clintons-alleging-hillarys-campaign-hijacked-dnc-during-primary-with-bernie-sanders%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftownhall.com%2Ftipsheet%2Fbronsonstocking%2F2019%2F12%2F05%2Fhillary-clinton-hints-bernie-sanders-might-be-a-russian-asset-n2557570\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2016%2F07%2F11%2Fpolitics%2Fhillary-clinton-bernie-sanders%2Findex.html\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2016%2F07%2F11%2Fpolitics%2Fhillary-clinton-bernie-sanders%2Findex.html%29***..as\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2Ffeatures%2Fhillary-clinton-full-a-fiery-new-documentary-trump-regrets-harsh-words-bernie-1271551\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheantimedia.com%2Fnobody-likes-him-hillary-clinton-not-sure-shell-endorse-bernie-sanders%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fbernie-sanders-apologizes-to-joe-biden-for-surrogates-op-ed-alleging-he-has-a-big-corruption-problem-today-2020-01-20%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FBernieSanders%2Fstatus%2F1223360740767088640%3Fs%3D19\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnlyTulsi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/MorePerfectUnion?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinWithTulsi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/girlyGRRRL/status/1224790128326918144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fcommentisfree%2F2020%2Fjan%2F20%2Fjoe-biden-corruption-donald-trump\",\"https://t.co/hKEVoAYqDc\",\"https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1219706705585549312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/B00vxWiI2R\",\"https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1219705920810291201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/uK2r5OIty2\",\"https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1219707703062343680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/HXYG5ceMYC\",\"https://twitter.com/Lukewearechange/status/1224557244416774144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1219503677297319936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/Ventuckyspaz/status/1219526402766016512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1217844351168020480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FTulsiGabbard%2Fstatus%2F1185289626409406464%3Fref_src%3Dtwsrc%255Etfw%257Ctwcamp%255Etweetembed%257Ctwterm%255E1185289626409406464%26ref_url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.breitbart.com%252Fpolitics%252F2019%252F10%252F18%252Ftulsi-gabbard-rips-hillary-clinton-queen-of-warmongers%252F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fnews%2F2020%2F01%2F22%2Ftulsi-gabbard-sues-hillary-clinton-over-russian-asset-smear-102074\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fnews%2F2020%2F01%2F22%2Ftulsi-gabbard-sues-hillary-clinton-over-russian-asset-smear-102074%29.**\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.truthdig.com%2Farticles%2Fbernie-sanders-phantom-movement%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.truthdig.com%2Fauthor%2Fchris_hedges%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.counterpunch.org%2F2015%2F07%2F21%2Fbernie-out-of-the-closet-sanders-longstanding-deal-with-the-democrats%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.libertyunionparty.org%2F%3Fpage_id%3D363\",\"https://t.co/rcsAF0VkOQ\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1213871530737721346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithTulsi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/4t9jAyAgGk\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1220418934844706816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/girlyGRRRL/status/1221097968654118913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F2020%2F01%2F13%2Felizabeth-warren-says-sanders-didnt-think-woman-could-president%2F4461106002%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheintercept.com%2F2020%2F01%2F17%2Fsanders-warren-vice-president-treasury-secretary%2F%5C\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.startribune.com%2Fcnn-draws-fire-for-debate-question-that-ignores-denial%2F567009732%2F\",\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1216877685013733376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1217341801524269056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/nikoCSFB/status/1216837618270384129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FBernieSanders%2Fstatus%2F1218303595612950530%3Fs%3D19\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcGVfrx6W9dk2Dwq3HNLe42w3DzFkHomy2QXPNjecaPcu/dncadmitfraud.jpeg\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRKDgtLVB71JYYtQZV9vh6hYwM8Ln4QxSnJmL7fsAM8Fr/letsbecleariggingsanders.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcYZb4KrsBkvWHSR76P7urq3FngT3c4t9LEePJP1HQbZ5/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQRFXa5w2K879587kRFTyc9ouu3t3romMQRvuLUr16GgQ/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPx6DwayHHFZsMWmjfECxNVbn7ywPPwLpbs91KALXfzaC/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNfRdvuUvgvqypFNfFWCd6oFhExhfeRV3UQdJyHabSZRE/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZMYp3i9hivHMpUeRDrftU4ikVwMPMvELPBi1AZFGUiWq/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPAhL84enBW4qzjfV3t8NuZvyuBYADfxryNd8KMKUeM5N/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPkx8ykKRdjLkFFkMmNbgvYCekHAQmSjiQv1634eywMSf/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXKEP59g5U7aXi7isQiHJAzhxgSeXpGSEVCSdXqcd9DWu/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQme3FsxbAg3jEcxWcfaudEihFGibqrBHimY9QxXAvBwVcx/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRqhxq2rnUk9KUJrUETsEnTudwWCko966wCCoh6cuhC4C/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmR61WW7FD4RJsqxubjbmjucPXfheUXp2bdrRq9YvRBfTr/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYC8KgQtnfSZ1ayTxoKDaFRm6mG7NAT25rd6c5EGfvKa7/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRxWSy3Z2vPS2ZhE1yEeHhvEAbPFdu4YwaduHQzqmZxif/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUToGEbRBQXEAbFUtbNeSYL7L1J2cdzgBUgmwv1GbKn8z/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTu7wsr8bijxaLwAcMpVJPBKQSVUqeWNyT8U8RaTZYBSg/image.png\"]}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "d54363af9ade95354cb0e03079971c829b3f9411",
  "block": 48696729,
  "trx_in_block": 0,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-18T04:34:39",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "partitura.point",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "3wzssg-bernie-vs-tulsi-how-to-identify-controlled-opposition",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0f391507dc412ed01e17b41c2411bc45bc6849e2",
  "block": 48696637,
  "trx_in_block": 0,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-18T04:30:03",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "tulsi",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "3wzssg-bernie-vs-tulsi-how-to-identify-controlled-opposition",
      "title": "Bernie vs Tulsi: How to Identify Controlled Opposition Part 2",
      "body": "### Bernie vs Tulsi: How to Identify Controlled Opposition Part 2\n\n####  Bernie has stunted the progressive movement, and his weakness should be treated as a case study\n\n---\n**The DNC’s actions have prompted headlines such as,“**[**_Are Tom Perez and the DNC preparing for a battle against Bernie Sanders and the left?_**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.salon.com%2F2020%2F01%2F27%2Fare-tom-perez-and-the-dnc-preparing-for-a-battle-against-bernie-sanders-and-the-left_partner%2F)**”** and “[To rig primary against Bernie, DNC chair Tom Perez nominates regime-change agents, Israel lobbyists, and Wall Street consultant](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthegrayzone.com%2F2020%2F01%2F27%2Fdnc-perez-regime-change-agents-israel-lobbyists-wall-street-rig-game-bernie%2Famp%2F%3F__twitter_impression%3Dtrue)s”, which Tom Perez would [deny](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftownhall.com%2Ftipsheet%2Fjuliorosas%2F2020%2F02%2F07%2Fdnc-chair-tom-perez-refuses-to-accept-responsibility-for-the-chaos-in-iowa-n2560943). **Yet Bernie had not laid a verbal finger on Perez, or the DNC throughout the campaign.** ***He couldn’t even stand up to slimy betrayal by allies and surrogates.***\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZmTrwzSTjYW85r7CcvLH9dBPQ8gLAbWddA3K5PqP9iHY/image.png)\n\n[**@NoMoreWars2**](https://medium.com/r/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FNoMoreWars2 \"Twitter profile for @NoMoreWars2\") **corrected his second to last statement, telling him to “fix your typo!” and replace “doomed” with “OWNED”**, implying that _Sanders’ campaign’s refusal to swing back combined with the defense of Bernie’s own attackers_ is a result of him being “**_controlled opposition_**”.\n\n@Cameron8digi would also reply in the thread:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Yep he’s out there this week talking Russiagate and tweeting against trump when trump tells us the dnc are rigging the election on him. <br>But yes, He has disappointed us many times now. Sometimes I hope, and then always disappointed.</p> cameron🌺 (@cameron8digi) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/cameron8digi/status/1218952611715592198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 19, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nAfter Politico published a headline that read “[DNC members discuss rules change to stop Sanders at convention](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fnews%2F2020%2F01%2F31%2Fdnc-superdelegates-1100830)” , Tom Perez would tweet the headline, commenting,\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaNNiUnggkEyxSiTjaSKN4bmmbiwebokMMpzLKhhnXARb/image.png)\n\nHe would of course be slammed with a slew of replies, one of which read as is:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">You literally just changed your rules today to let a billionaire on the debate stage, you hacks.</p> Nicole Alexander Fisher (@_nalexander) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/_nalexander/status/1223389253943668739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 31, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nReferring to a [petition that Tulsi Gabbard created and posted on her campaign’s website that demanded Tom Perez’s resignation](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tulsi2020.com%2Ftom-perez), Alex Rubinstein would tweet,\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRMvmvwRPDhki4AbeWh8J7C3bbPjD3nbM7Vj89tj5kDd3/image.png)\n\n**To showcase what happens when you allow, or even defend, corruption in your own part, and only call it out on the other side**— **_look at the career of Hillary’s campaign manager in 2016, John Podesta, a reprehensible figure_** notorious for corruption exposed through “[_the Podesta leaks_](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwikileaks.org%2Fpodesta-emails%2F%3Fq%3D%26mfrom%3D%26mto%3D%26title%3D%26notitle%3D%26date_from%3D%26date_to%3D%26nofrom%3D%26noto%3D%26count%3D50%26sort%3D6)” published by Wikileaks, as well as some other, [even more disturbing, accusations](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdcpizzagate.wordpress.com%2F) that are still relevant, especially considering the Epstein debacle that followed — and Ghislaine Maxwell’s recent arrest. **Podesta’s career should be over**. **_But instead_**, he is still welcome within the political community. It has been brought to attention that **_John Podesta will be serving on the 2020 DNC’s Rules Committee for the convention_** … \n***If that does not enrage you, then you have not been exposed to*** **_the Podesta leaks_ — which proved beyond a doubt the case for corruption in regards to the DNC establishment co-conspiring with Clinton Inc. to ensure Clinton secured the nomination over Sanders.**\n\nReferring to Podesta, who is in Clinton’s inner circle, being selected for a committee at the DNC convention, [@Fiorella\\_Im](https://medium.com/r/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FFiorella_Im \"Twitter profile for @Fiorella_Im\") would tweet,\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYyrsFgNYmFLLwLcMbGNqbQ2M3drKgu7tdYdtD4ETQZac/image.png)\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPVi21dFuj5u6pm5fphiGY6TWbMxMBbqKpkckzLY7vZvc/image.png)\n\nJill Stein, provoked by the obscene corruption of the DNC, would pull no punches by tweeting,\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Desperate DNC members consider rule change to let superdelegates vote on 1st ballot to stop Sanders. If the DNC rigs another election against its voters, it’ll be asking for biggest <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/DemExit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#DemExit</a> yet by those who want an actually democratic party. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/DNCRigging?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#DNCRigging</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/3JkXoVLYHe\">https://t.co/3JkXoVLYHe</a></p> Dr. Jill Stein🌻 (@DrJillStein) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/DrJillStein/status/1223439243621621761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 1, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nBut despite the DNC’s undeniable corruption, Sanders refuses to hold them accountable, choosing to tow the establishment’s line instead and blame Russia for 2016 and the consequences of the DNC’s shortcomings.\n\nBernie would release a [statement condemning Russian interference in 2020](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fmattduss%2Fstatus%2F1217130566304305154), urging Big Tech companies to combat this interference — which would provoke comments such as Donna’s below:\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbVcN9rmJvAbMk6CwzmSdUtJwS9ssS6mjDCAT3AdKREet/image.png)\n\nMarc Caputo tweeted out that\n\n> Bernie Sanders could've trafficked in conspiracy theories in his Caucus Night speech. He could've said how suspicious it was for the vote tallies to not be posted. He could’ve said the spiking of the Iowa Poll was unfair to him.\n\n> But he didn’t. And that’s to his credit.\n\nRobert Barnes [snapped back](https://twitter.com/Barnes_Law/status/1224560356967641088?s=19), retorting that “**_It’s how they know they can steal it from him without consequence_**”….. **Bernie could have stirred the pot and “_trafficked in conspiracy theories_” that concern anomalies in the “_democratic process_” the DNC is overseer too, but instead he was a good boy and didn’t tug on the leash that the DNC has on him.**\n\nUndoubtedly surprising to some, while predicted by many, this tweet has aged as well as fine wine:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I can&#39;t help feeling that people didn&#39;t learn any lessons from 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, or 2016, and when 2020 does the same thing to them again they&#39;re going to be as shocked and horrified as if it was the first time. <br><br>(Berners: are you prepared for him to kiss the ring again?)</p> Suzie Dawson (@Suzi3D) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Suzi3D/status/1218007382414057472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 17, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nBut **_Bernie seemed to be more focused on the DNC beating Trump rather than himself beating the DNC and securing the nomination_** so that he himself could be in a position to beat Trump.\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRB7LXbPDYAvJWmVL71DJAufhMS7RNL8gmxqDNEvx7SSE/image.png)\n\n**Sanders conceded to the establishment that gave us Trump, in the name of beating Trump.** ***Albiet, conceding implies he was putting up much of a fight to begin with.*** *To be fair, in the context of having inserted that last tweet,* Tulsi Gabbard *did* sign the same pledge as Sanders, promising to support the eventual DNC nominee. However, a crucial difference to point out is that she was not making statements like this at anytime during her campaign, especially not during the climax of the primary like the statement above. *At least Gabbard was acting like she wanted to win.* She didn't take attacks and smears without firing back. She not only defended herself, but arguably fought harder to defend Bernie and his base than Bernie did himself.\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbzUJxHKk42sLiFmgTFGkHXuZXCvRRnHFAoshkXejxRBh/image.png)\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWh6g1kS4BzUHjkGUhqbhHg1su8Wn7is5A7DgYKNpyopL/image.png)\n\n**Bernie’s already-scrutinized tweets did not age well, considering the Iowa caucus debacle, which the DNC chairman, Perez,** [**said**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FTomPerez%2Fstatus%2F1224871061558349826%3Fs%3D19%25C2%25A0) **_“should never have happened”_** — although the shenanigans were still ongoing at the time he said that. This would lead to Gabbard demanding Perez’s resignation- while Bernie was silent, whose campaign had far more to lose- [saying](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FNicoleSganga%2Fstatus%2F1226527759184355328) that “_It’s both because of what we’ve seen happen in Iowa, but also over the last several months the growing skepticism that I hear from Democratic voters_”.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Happening now: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard calls on <a href=\"https://twitter.com/DNC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DNC</a> Chair Tom Perez to resign. <br><br>&quot;It&#39;s both because of what we&#39;ve seen happen in Iowa, but also over the last several months the growing skepticism that I hear from Democratic voters,&quot; Gabbard says on <a href=\"https://twitter.com/WMUR9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@WMUR9</a>.</p> Nicole Sganga (@NicoleSganga) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/NicoleSganga/status/1226527759184355328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 9, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nThe first contest of primary season that sets the stage for the entire primary process, the Iowa Caucus, which the DNC [in their own words](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FDNC%2Fstatus%2F1224456542478462977) had for three years been preparing for, was obviously corrupted — and it would not be a stretch to say rigged.\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUegCgwxeaCRK2ZHKffji9txqPmJS1tumJiio82ZmF6vQ/image.png)\n\nHell, **_the company that created the app that handled the votes_**, [Shadow, had conspicuous ties to Pete Buttigieg’s campaign, being created by the wife of a senior political strategist of Buttigieg’s campaign](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapnews.com%2F5232ce5601996c1de440806ad30fa4fb). As [reported by AP news](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapnews.com%2F5232ce5601996c1de440806ad30fa4fb), _“Resumes posted on the online business networking site LinkedIn show the company’s top executives all worked in the Clinton campaign’s digital operation in 2016._”\n\n**This would include**\\-\n\\- The CEO, Niemira, who was _Clinton’s director of product_\n\\- James Hickey, _Shadow’s chief operating officer, was an engineering manager at Hillary for America_.\n\\- Krista Davis, _the chief technical officer and chief software architect at Shadow, who was a backend engineer for the Clinton campaign_.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/IowaCaucus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#IowaCaucus</a> debacle is an urgent reminder that Americans need to demand elections we can trust. Now.<br> <br>That means:<br>-<a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/HandMarkedPaperBallots?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#HandMarkedPaperBallots</a> voters can verify<br>-Secure paper trail<br>-<a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RiskLimitingAudits?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#RiskLimitingAudits</a><br>-Accommodations for accessibility<br>-<a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RankedChoiceVoting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#RankedChoiceVoting</a><br>-End voter suppression</p> Dr. Jill Stein🌻 (@DrJillStein) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/DrJillStein/status/1224756974211993606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 4, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nGreen Greenwald would sarcastically tweet about the Iowa caucus:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">With the incomplete results released, Sanders has more votes than Buttigieg but Buttigieg has more delegates.<br><br>I have a feeling that the people who spent the last 4 years complaining about how unfair &amp; undemocratic such outcomes are won’t be quite as angry about this.</p> Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1224816730742099969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 4, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nIn a clever reference to Shadow, the company who produced the voting software previously mentioned, [@Primonutmeg](https://medium.com/r/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FPrimonutmeg \"Twitter profile for @Primonutmeg\") would joke,\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I don’t know about you, but the past 24 hours have really rid me of any silly suspicions that the Democratic nomination process is corrupt, or that Pete Buttigieg has ties to “shadowy” figures.</p> PRIMO NUTMEG (@PRIMONUTMEG) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/PRIMONUTMEG/status/1224865839486316544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 5, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nA great [thread by @mugrimm on twitter](https://twitter.com/mugrimm/status/1224722204887322624) would lay the foundations of the shadowy ties. The thread the two tweets below are apart of would continue if one is interested to read it by clicking [here](https://twitter.com/mugrimm/status/1224722204887322624)\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTiVpDBgxbiTpTpvS2HBfUA2Mdp63G9FiAaPRDaLU6sEi/image.png)\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYXjjJK4iVRVqxHtancX9Sm7UwVNPyKDAVQ71739n8nrg/image.png)\n\nThe Iowa caucus debacle would spur another round of Tulsi supporters using the hashtag #Tulsiwasright, as well as Bernie supporters giving her credit where its due.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Tulsi Gabbard was literally ahead of many things . <br>- she proposed the no more presidential wars act far before Iran conflict . <br>-she proposed secure America’s elections act for paper ballots before this fuckery . <br>And everyone literally shunned her all because politics .</p> Grumpy Birdie Sanders 🕊🍀 (@grumpybirdieS) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/grumpybirdieS/status/1224740787591766016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 4, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nIn regards to @KyleKulinski of Secular talk tweeting the following\nBre Miche would tweet,\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYfzh7CGSwjkKGGGQ2ApQvhEcSZvW18eoDzZ5CZbg6btt/image.png)\n\nImmediately after Iowa, Tulsi would double down on the issue of electoral reform,\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">In NH, Tulsi proposes a set of national reforms in the wake of yesterday’s “debacle” in Iowa: Open primaries, same-day voter registration, get rid of *all* super delegates, and ranked choice voting <a href=\"https://t.co/10KATfxkJd\">pic.twitter.com/10KATfxkJd</a></p> Michael Tracey (@mtracey) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1224844829219328000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 4, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nNow while I personally think we should look to blockchain to make our elections more secure, Gabbard’s proposals have been by far the best out of all the 2020 DND primary candidates.\n\nMeanwhile Bernie was pretending the electoral discrepencies never happened, and would focus on Russia and Trump. Even at the 8th democratic debate, mere days after the Iowa caucus, he would meekly fail to bring to attention the serious allegations that were favorable for him to mention as he was debating his opponents.\n\nCurrie Dobson would tweet after the 8th debate:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This debate reminds me that Trump is going to win a second term. How depressing. Why do the democrats have to suck ass so bad? Bernie being nice to Biden and Warren makes me want to gag. Is he going to mention the DNC cheating him in Iowa? Super weak.</p> Currie Dobson (@Ventuckyspaz) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Ventuckyspaz/status/1225976930551267328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 8, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n**_Two days after the Iowa caucus, Bernie would tweet in relation to Trumps impeachment case,_**\n_\\> “A president who is allowed to show contempt for Congress and its oversight duties.\nA trial without a single witness.\nI am disturbed by the precedent this sham process sets for this country.\nThis is not a good day for our democracy, the Constitution, or the American people.”_\n\nThis would earn many frustrated remarks from progressives. For example, Shawna Burley would mirror his tweet with some minor adjustments\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcZCPpEp6dRFy474iQnhstkigqTAWwCxgWjaYA1dnLLmC/image.png)\n\nProgressive soap box would also quote Bernies tweet, saying:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Fuck impeachment. Talk about priorities. They&#39;re cheating you and your supporters... again. I was wrong. Bernie Sanders is America&#39;s Jeremy Corbyn. He does appear to be too weak to do the job. Thre cheating won&#39;t stop. Once out of caucus states, it&#39;ll get ignored and you&#39;d lose <a href=\"https://t.co/aPFPhaKXhT\">https://t.co/aPFPhaKXhT</a></p> ProgressiveSoapbox (@theProgSoapbox) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/theProgSoapbox/status/1225201636408209409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 5, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n**Having thoroughly acknowledged Bernie’s timidity in truly** **_challenging_** **the DNC, and their corruption, it should be stated that the main reason why Tulsi supporters owe no apologizes**, **_why the shaming by Bernie supporters is a smear_**, apart from the difference in attitude/fight/approach to “challenging the establishment”, is because they do have some radically important differences in platform and policy, and we should feel free to vote for the candidate that best reflects our own views.\n\n**So let’s identify and compare some of them**.\n — -\n\nDue to a limit on length on Steemit, the contrast between Bernie and Gabbard’s policies will have to be a separate part. This part was meant to demonstrate the difference between Tulsi and Bernie in their approaches to “challenging the establishment”, and how the manner in which they ran their campaign, rather than the substance of the differences between them on important issues. Even though the primary is over, identifying and acknowledging the differences between their actions, legislative careers, and platforms is crucial for the future, and future elections. \n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQ4BCQmLzSD6BFWov5hZ2iz2cPgvioXy4pMjjygoLzxjQ/image.png)\n\nBernie Sanders should be a blue print for what *not* to look for in a candidate, and a reminder to keep a critical eye even on our favorite political candidates to look for neglection or of issues, or blind spots or stains on their platform - and this includes everyone no exceptions, even Gabbard supporters. No one is perfect, and the idea is to elect the person who *best* reflects our views...but when you settle on a candidate.....that doesn't mean to put on rose colored glasses and ignore any and all criticism of them.*If anything*, we should know more than others about our own candidate, and we should strive to know their flaws and weaknesses in order to push them into better positions, rather than pretending that they are perfect and those flaws don't exist. \n\n***The real problem*** is when candidates themselves are resistant to legitimate criticism, and their supporters defend their flaws, positions, and actions that deserve a degree of criticism. When populists like Sanders consistently appease the corporate democrats and even assist them in their efforts and agenda, foreign policy and domestic, and vote with them 98% of the time, even helping campaign for some of the worst of them, followers should suspend their preconceived notions and question whether Sanders was truly working against the establishment or not. What if he was working with them, as Chris Hedges and [Paul Street](https://prn.fm/bernie-out-of-the-closet-sanders-longstanding-deal-with-the-democrats-paul-street/) suggested? \n>\"As Hedges explained in a recent interview on the Ralph Nader Radio Hour, Sanders’ candidacy lends undeserved credibility to the thoroughly corporatized Democratic Party. Sanders has pledged that he will support the corporatist military hawk Hillary Clinton in the 2016 general presidential election. Sanders stirs up legitimate progressive energy and popular anger and then 'funnels it back into a dead political system,” Hedges observes. Sanders fails to confront the American Empire and military state, and, Hedges adds, has unforgivably “abandoned the Palestinians and given carte blanche to Israel.' \"\n\nRegarding the quote of Hedges directly above, it is worth noting that Gabbard's views on Isreal/Palestine is probably one of her weakest points, and while its worth pushing her on that issue going into the future, the point being made is that Sanders foreign policy is full of blunders and support for interventionism. This will be discussed shortly ahead. \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I love bernie, but most of his supporters pay little attention to his foreign policy. Only touting the few times he gets it right (Iraq/Iran) but ignoring the many times he gets it wrong. <br>As president, he has way more power over foreign policy than domestic</p> Cory Scott 🌺 (@coryascott) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/coryascott/status/1228870383723372546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 16, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n***The problem is when these same \"populists\" on leashes cant bring themselves to stand up for themselves, their supporters, or their movement,*** and go on to partake in smear campaigns against their own campaigns - such as Russiagate. **The problem with** ***\"populists\"*** **that consistently bow to the ruling establishment and fail to challenge them headon is that they, wittingly or unwittingly, effectively act as \"controlled opposition\"**: ***they stagnate, dampen, and ultimately hurt the populist political movements that they are supposed to represent and champion.***\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXGQrHryZaLp7jY8R9suZ75d1BJa5noYs13MKJKertbip/image.png)\n\nNow lets get on to the issues...in the next part. You can find the next part by going to my profile, following me, and look for the next article posted after this one.",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"gabbard\",\"bernie\",\"sanders\",\"politics\",\"progressive\",\"election\",\"reform\",\"tulsiwasright\"],\"users\":[\"nomorewars2\",\"cameron8digi\",\"drjillstein\",\"suzi3d\",\"nicolesganga\",\"ggreenwald\",\"primonutmeg\",\"grumpybirdies\",\"kylekulinski\",\"mtracey\",\"ventuckyspaz\",\"theprogsoapbox\",\"coryascott\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZmTrwzSTjYW85r7CcvLH9dBPQ8gLAbWddA3K5PqP9iHY/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaNNiUnggkEyxSiTjaSKN4bmmbiwebokMMpzLKhhnXARb/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRMvmvwRPDhki4AbeWh8J7C3bbPjD3nbM7Vj89tj5kDd3/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYyrsFgNYmFLLwLcMbGNqbQ2M3drKgu7tdYdtD4ETQZac/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPVi21dFuj5u6pm5fphiGY6TWbMxMBbqKpkckzLY7vZvc/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbVcN9rmJvAbMk6CwzmSdUtJwS9ssS6mjDCAT3AdKREet/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRB7LXbPDYAvJWmVL71DJAufhMS7RNL8gmxqDNEvx7SSE/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbzUJxHKk42sLiFmgTFGkHXuZXCvRRnHFAoshkXejxRBh/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWh6g1kS4BzUHjkGUhqbhHg1su8Wn7is5A7DgYKNpyopL/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUegCgwxeaCRK2ZHKffji9txqPmJS1tumJiio82ZmF6vQ/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTiVpDBgxbiTpTpvS2HBfUA2Mdp63G9FiAaPRDaLU6sEi/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYXjjJK4iVRVqxHtancX9Sm7UwVNPyKDAVQ71739n8nrg/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYfzh7CGSwjkKGGGQ2ApQvhEcSZvW18eoDzZ5CZbg6btt/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcZCPpEp6dRFy474iQnhstkigqTAWwCxgWjaYA1dnLLmC/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQ4BCQmLzSD6BFWov5hZ2iz2cPgvioXy4pMjjygoLzxjQ/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXGQrHryZaLp7jY8R9suZ75d1BJa5noYs13MKJKertbip/image.png\"],\"links\":[\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.salon.com%2F2020%2F01%2F27%2Fare-tom-perez-and-the-dnc-preparing-for-a-battle-against-bernie-sanders-and-the-left_partner%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthegrayzone.com%2F2020%2F01%2F27%2Fdnc-perez-regime-change-agents-israel-lobbyists-wall-street-rig-game-bernie%2Famp%2F%3F__twitter_impression%3Dtrue\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftownhall.com%2Ftipsheet%2Fjuliorosas%2F2020%2F02%2F07%2Fdnc-chair-tom-perez-refuses-to-accept-responsibility-for-the-chaos-in-iowa-n2560943\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FNoMoreWars2\",\"https://twitter.com/cameron8digi/status/1218952611715592198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fnews%2F2020%2F01%2F31%2Fdnc-superdelegates-1100830\",\"https://twitter.com/_nalexander/status/1223389253943668739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tulsi2020.com%2Ftom-perez\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwikileaks.org%2Fpodesta-emails%2F%3Fq%3D%26mfrom%3D%26mto%3D%26title%3D%26notitle%3D%26date_from%3D%26date_to%3D%26nofrom%3D%26noto%3D%26count%3D50%26sort%3D6\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdcpizzagate.wordpress.com%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FFiorella_Im\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/DemExit?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/DNCRigging?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/3JkXoVLYHe\",\"https://twitter.com/DrJillStein/status/1223439243621621761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fmattduss%2Fstatus%2F1217130566304305154\",\"https://twitter.com/Barnes_Law/status/1224560356967641088?s=19\",\"https://twitter.com/Suzi3D/status/1218007382414057472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FTomPerez%2Fstatus%2F1224871061558349826%3Fs%3D19%25C2%25A0\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FNicoleSganga%2Fstatus%2F1226527759184355328\",\"https://twitter.com/DNC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/WMUR9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/NicoleSganga/status/1226527759184355328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FDNC%2Fstatus%2F1224456542478462977\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapnews.com%2F5232ce5601996c1de440806ad30fa4fb\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/IowaCaucus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/HandMarkedPaperBallots?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RiskLimitingAudits?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RankedChoiceVoting?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/DrJillStein/status/1224756974211993606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1224816730742099969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FPrimonutmeg\",\"https://twitter.com/PRIMONUTMEG/status/1224865839486316544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/mugrimm/status/1224722204887322624\",\"https://twitter.com/grumpybirdieS/status/1224740787591766016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/10KATfxkJd\",\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1224844829219328000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/Ventuckyspaz/status/1225976930551267328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/aPFPhaKXhT\",\"https://twitter.com/theProgSoapbox/status/1225201636408209409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://prn.fm/bernie-out-of-the-closet-sanders-longstanding-deal-with-the-democrats-paul-street/\",\"https://twitter.com/coryascott/status/1228870383723372546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "3ebeef2c29530853d880277b7d16a3d18564094c",
  "block": 48696630,
  "trx_in_block": 1,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-18T04:29:39",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "limka",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "3wzssg-bernie-vs-tulsi-how-to-identify-controlled-opposition",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "82e9a0084fe84fb87ac6b073d724e11cc9102066",
  "block": 48696629,
  "trx_in_block": 0,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-18T04:29:36",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "tulsi",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "3wzssg-bernie-vs-tulsi-how-to-identify-controlled-opposition",
      "title": "Bernie vs Tulsi: How to Identify Controlled Opposition",
      "body": "### Bernie vs Tulsi: How to Identify Controlled Opposition Part 2\n\n####  Bernie has stunted the progressive movement, and his weakness should be treated as a case study\n\n---\n**The DNC’s actions have prompted headlines such as,“**[**_Are Tom Perez and the DNC preparing for a battle against Bernie Sanders and the left?_**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.salon.com%2F2020%2F01%2F27%2Fare-tom-perez-and-the-dnc-preparing-for-a-battle-against-bernie-sanders-and-the-left_partner%2F)**”** and “[To rig primary against Bernie, DNC chair Tom Perez nominates regime-change agents, Israel lobbyists, and Wall Street consultant](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthegrayzone.com%2F2020%2F01%2F27%2Fdnc-perez-regime-change-agents-israel-lobbyists-wall-street-rig-game-bernie%2Famp%2F%3F__twitter_impression%3Dtrue)s”, which Tom Perez would [deny](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftownhall.com%2Ftipsheet%2Fjuliorosas%2F2020%2F02%2F07%2Fdnc-chair-tom-perez-refuses-to-accept-responsibility-for-the-chaos-in-iowa-n2560943). **Yet Bernie had not laid a verbal finger on Perez, or the DNC throughout the campaign.** ***He couldn’t even stand up to slimy betrayal by allies and surrogates.***\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZmTrwzSTjYW85r7CcvLH9dBPQ8gLAbWddA3K5PqP9iHY/image.png)\n\n[**@NoMoreWars2**](https://medium.com/r/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FNoMoreWars2 \"Twitter profile for @NoMoreWars2\") **corrected his second to last statement, telling him to “fix your typo!” and replace “doomed” with “OWNED”**, implying that _Sanders’ campaign’s refusal to swing back combined with the defense of Bernie’s own attackers_ is a result of him being “**_controlled opposition_**”.\n\n@Cameron8digi would also reply in the thread:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Yep he’s out there this week talking Russiagate and tweeting against trump when trump tells us the dnc are rigging the election on him. <br>But yes, He has disappointed us many times now. Sometimes I hope, and then always disappointed.</p> cameron🌺 (@cameron8digi) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/cameron8digi/status/1218952611715592198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 19, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nAfter Politico published a headline that read “[DNC members discuss rules change to stop Sanders at convention](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fnews%2F2020%2F01%2F31%2Fdnc-superdelegates-1100830)” , Tom Perez would tweet the headline, commenting,\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaNNiUnggkEyxSiTjaSKN4bmmbiwebokMMpzLKhhnXARb/image.png)\n\nHe would of course be slammed with a slew of replies, one of which read as is:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">You literally just changed your rules today to let a billionaire on the debate stage, you hacks.</p> Nicole Alexander Fisher (@_nalexander) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/_nalexander/status/1223389253943668739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 31, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nReferring to a [petition that Tulsi Gabbard created and posted on her campaign’s website that demanded Tom Perez’s resignation](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tulsi2020.com%2Ftom-perez), Alex Rubinstein would tweet,\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRMvmvwRPDhki4AbeWh8J7C3bbPjD3nbM7Vj89tj5kDd3/image.png)\n\n**To showcase what happens when you allow, or even defend, corruption in your own part, and only call it out on the other side**— **_look at the career of Hillary’s campaign manager in 2016, John Podesta, a reprehensible figure_** notorious for corruption exposed through “[_the Podesta leaks_](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwikileaks.org%2Fpodesta-emails%2F%3Fq%3D%26mfrom%3D%26mto%3D%26title%3D%26notitle%3D%26date_from%3D%26date_to%3D%26nofrom%3D%26noto%3D%26count%3D50%26sort%3D6)” published by Wikileaks, as well as some other, [even more disturbing, accusations](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdcpizzagate.wordpress.com%2F) that are still relevant, especially considering the Epstein debacle that followed — and Ghislaine Maxwell’s recent arrest. **Podesta’s career should be over**. **_But instead_**, he is still welcome within the political community. It has been brought to attention that **_John Podesta will be serving on the 2020 DNC’s Rules Committee for the convention_** … \n***If that does not enrage you, then you have not been exposed to*** **_the Podesta leaks_ — which proved beyond a doubt the case for corruption in regards to the DNC establishment co-conspiring with Clinton Inc. to ensure Clinton secured the nomination over Sanders.**\n\nReferring to Podesta, who is in Clinton’s inner circle, being selected for a committee at the DNC convention, [@Fiorella\\_Im](https://medium.com/r/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FFiorella_Im \"Twitter profile for @Fiorella_Im\") would tweet,\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYyrsFgNYmFLLwLcMbGNqbQ2M3drKgu7tdYdtD4ETQZac/image.png)\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPVi21dFuj5u6pm5fphiGY6TWbMxMBbqKpkckzLY7vZvc/image.png)\n\nJill Stein, provoked by the obscene corruption of the DNC, would pull no punches by tweeting,\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Desperate DNC members consider rule change to let superdelegates vote on 1st ballot to stop Sanders. If the DNC rigs another election against its voters, it’ll be asking for biggest <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/DemExit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#DemExit</a> yet by those who want an actually democratic party. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/DNCRigging?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#DNCRigging</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/3JkXoVLYHe\">https://t.co/3JkXoVLYHe</a></p> Dr. Jill Stein🌻 (@DrJillStein) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/DrJillStein/status/1223439243621621761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 1, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nBut despite the DNC’s undeniable corruption, Sanders refuses to hold them accountable, choosing to tow the establishment’s line instead and blame Russia for 2016 and the consequences of the DNC’s shortcomings.\n\nBernie would release a [statement condemning Russian interference in 2020](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fmattduss%2Fstatus%2F1217130566304305154), urging Big Tech companies to combat this interference — which would provoke comments such as Donna’s below:\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbVcN9rmJvAbMk6CwzmSdUtJwS9ssS6mjDCAT3AdKREet/image.png)\n\nMarc Caputo tweeted out that\n\n> Bernie Sanders could've trafficked in conspiracy theories in his Caucus Night speech. He could've said how suspicious it was for the vote tallies to not be posted. He could’ve said the spiking of the Iowa Poll was unfair to him.\n\n> But he didn’t. And that’s to his credit.\n\nRobert Barnes [snapped back](https://twitter.com/Barnes_Law/status/1224560356967641088?s=19), retorting that “**_It’s how they know they can steal it from him without consequence_**”….. **Bernie could have stirred the pot and “_trafficked in conspiracy theories_” that concern anomalies in the “_democratic process_” the DNC is overseer too, but instead he was a good boy and didn’t tug on the leash that the DNC has on him.**\n\nUndoubtedly surprising to some, while predicted by many, this tweet has aged as well as fine wine:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I can&#39;t help feeling that people didn&#39;t learn any lessons from 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, or 2016, and when 2020 does the same thing to them again they&#39;re going to be as shocked and horrified as if it was the first time. <br><br>(Berners: are you prepared for him to kiss the ring again?)</p> Suzie Dawson (@Suzi3D) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Suzi3D/status/1218007382414057472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 17, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nBut **_Bernie seemed to be more focused on the DNC beating Trump rather than himself beating the DNC and securing the nomination_** so that he himself could be in a position to beat Trump.\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRB7LXbPDYAvJWmVL71DJAufhMS7RNL8gmxqDNEvx7SSE/image.png)\n\n**Sanders conceded to the establishment that gave us Trump, in the name of beating Trump.** ***Albiet, conceding implies he was putting up much of a fight to begin with.*** *To be fair, in the context of having inserted that last tweet,* Tulsi Gabbard *did* sign the same pledge as Sanders, promising to support the eventual DNC nominee. However, a crucial difference to point out is that she was not making statements like this at anytime during her campaign, especially not during the climax of the primary like the statement above. *At least Gabbard was acting like she wanted to win.* She didn't take attacks and smears without firing back. She not only defended herself, but arguably fought harder to defend Bernie and his base than Bernie did himself.\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbzUJxHKk42sLiFmgTFGkHXuZXCvRRnHFAoshkXejxRBh/image.png)\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWh6g1kS4BzUHjkGUhqbhHg1su8Wn7is5A7DgYKNpyopL/image.png)\n\n**Bernie’s already-scrutinized tweets did not age well, considering the Iowa caucus debacle, which the DNC chairman, Perez,** [**said**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FTomPerez%2Fstatus%2F1224871061558349826%3Fs%3D19%25C2%25A0) **_“should never have happened”_** — although the shenanigans were still ongoing at the time he said that. This would lead to Gabbard demanding Perez’s resignation- while Bernie was silent, whose campaign had far more to lose- [saying](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FNicoleSganga%2Fstatus%2F1226527759184355328) that “_It’s both because of what we’ve seen happen in Iowa, but also over the last several months the growing skepticism that I hear from Democratic voters_”.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Happening now: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard calls on <a href=\"https://twitter.com/DNC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DNC</a> Chair Tom Perez to resign. <br><br>&quot;It&#39;s both because of what we&#39;ve seen happen in Iowa, but also over the last several months the growing skepticism that I hear from Democratic voters,&quot; Gabbard says on <a href=\"https://twitter.com/WMUR9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@WMUR9</a>.</p> Nicole Sganga (@NicoleSganga) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/NicoleSganga/status/1226527759184355328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 9, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nThe first contest of primary season that sets the stage for the entire primary process, the Iowa Caucus, which the DNC [in their own words](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FDNC%2Fstatus%2F1224456542478462977) had for three years been preparing for, was obviously corrupted — and it would not be a stretch to say rigged.\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUegCgwxeaCRK2ZHKffji9txqPmJS1tumJiio82ZmF6vQ/image.png)\n\nHell, **_the company that created the app that handled the votes_**, [Shadow, had conspicuous ties to Pete Buttigieg’s campaign, being created by the wife of a senior political strategist of Buttigieg’s campaign](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapnews.com%2F5232ce5601996c1de440806ad30fa4fb). As [reported by AP news](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapnews.com%2F5232ce5601996c1de440806ad30fa4fb), _“Resumes posted on the online business networking site LinkedIn show the company’s top executives all worked in the Clinton campaign’s digital operation in 2016._”\n\n**This would include**\\-\n\\- The CEO, Niemira, who was _Clinton’s director of product_\n\\- James Hickey, _Shadow’s chief operating officer, was an engineering manager at Hillary for America_.\n\\- Krista Davis, _the chief technical officer and chief software architect at Shadow, who was a backend engineer for the Clinton campaign_.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/IowaCaucus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#IowaCaucus</a> debacle is an urgent reminder that Americans need to demand elections we can trust. Now.<br> <br>That means:<br>-<a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/HandMarkedPaperBallots?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#HandMarkedPaperBallots</a> voters can verify<br>-Secure paper trail<br>-<a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RiskLimitingAudits?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#RiskLimitingAudits</a><br>-Accommodations for accessibility<br>-<a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RankedChoiceVoting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#RankedChoiceVoting</a><br>-End voter suppression</p> Dr. Jill Stein🌻 (@DrJillStein) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/DrJillStein/status/1224756974211993606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 4, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nGreen Greenwald would sarcastically tweet about the Iowa caucus:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">With the incomplete results released, Sanders has more votes than Buttigieg but Buttigieg has more delegates.<br><br>I have a feeling that the people who spent the last 4 years complaining about how unfair &amp; undemocratic such outcomes are won’t be quite as angry about this.</p> Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1224816730742099969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 4, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nIn a clever reference to Shadow, the company who produced the voting software previously mentioned, [@Primonutmeg](https://medium.com/r/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FPrimonutmeg \"Twitter profile for @Primonutmeg\") would joke,\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I don’t know about you, but the past 24 hours have really rid me of any silly suspicions that the Democratic nomination process is corrupt, or that Pete Buttigieg has ties to “shadowy” figures.</p> PRIMO NUTMEG (@PRIMONUTMEG) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/PRIMONUTMEG/status/1224865839486316544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 5, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nA great [thread by @mugrimm on twitter](https://twitter.com/mugrimm/status/1224722204887322624) would lay the foundations of the shadowy ties. The thread the two tweets below are apart of would continue if one is interested to read it by clicking [here](https://twitter.com/mugrimm/status/1224722204887322624)\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTiVpDBgxbiTpTpvS2HBfUA2Mdp63G9FiAaPRDaLU6sEi/image.png)\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYXjjJK4iVRVqxHtancX9Sm7UwVNPyKDAVQ71739n8nrg/image.png)\n\nThe Iowa caucus debacle would spur another round of Tulsi supporters using the hashtag #Tulsiwasright, as well as Bernie supporters giving her credit where its due.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Tulsi Gabbard was literally ahead of many things . <br>- she proposed the no more presidential wars act far before Iran conflict . <br>-she proposed secure America’s elections act for paper ballots before this fuckery . <br>And everyone literally shunned her all because politics .</p> Grumpy Birdie Sanders 🕊🍀 (@grumpybirdieS) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/grumpybirdieS/status/1224740787591766016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 4, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nIn regards to @KyleKulinski of Secular talk tweeting the following\nBre Miche would tweet,\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYfzh7CGSwjkKGGGQ2ApQvhEcSZvW18eoDzZ5CZbg6btt/image.png)\n\nImmediately after Iowa, Tulsi would double down on the issue of electoral reform,\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">In NH, Tulsi proposes a set of national reforms in the wake of yesterday’s “debacle” in Iowa: Open primaries, same-day voter registration, get rid of *all* super delegates, and ranked choice voting <a href=\"https://t.co/10KATfxkJd\">pic.twitter.com/10KATfxkJd</a></p> Michael Tracey (@mtracey) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1224844829219328000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 4, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nNow while I personally think we should look to blockchain to make our elections more secure, Gabbard’s proposals have been by far the best out of all the 2020 DND primary candidates.\n\nMeanwhile Bernie was pretending the electoral discrepencies never happened, and would focus on Russia and Trump. Even at the 8th democratic debate, mere days after the Iowa caucus, he would meekly fail to bring to attention the serious allegations that were favorable for him to mention as he was debating his opponents.\n\nCurrie Dobson would tweet after the 8th debate:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This debate reminds me that Trump is going to win a second term. How depressing. Why do the democrats have to suck ass so bad? Bernie being nice to Biden and Warren makes me want to gag. Is he going to mention the DNC cheating him in Iowa? Super weak.</p> Currie Dobson (@Ventuckyspaz) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Ventuckyspaz/status/1225976930551267328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 8, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n**_Two days after the Iowa caucus, Bernie would tweet in relation to Trumps impeachment case,_**\n_\\> “A president who is allowed to show contempt for Congress and its oversight duties.\nA trial without a single witness.\nI am disturbed by the precedent this sham process sets for this country.\nThis is not a good day for our democracy, the Constitution, or the American people.”_\n\nThis would earn many frustrated remarks from progressives. For example, Shawna Burley would mirror his tweet with some minor adjustments\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcZCPpEp6dRFy474iQnhstkigqTAWwCxgWjaYA1dnLLmC/image.png)\n\nProgressive soap box would also quote Bernies tweet, saying:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Fuck impeachment. Talk about priorities. They&#39;re cheating you and your supporters... again. I was wrong. Bernie Sanders is America&#39;s Jeremy Corbyn. He does appear to be too weak to do the job. Thre cheating won&#39;t stop. Once out of caucus states, it&#39;ll get ignored and you&#39;d lose <a href=\"https://t.co/aPFPhaKXhT\">https://t.co/aPFPhaKXhT</a></p> ProgressiveSoapbox (@theProgSoapbox) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/theProgSoapbox/status/1225201636408209409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 5, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n**Having thoroughly acknowledged Bernie’s timidity in truly** **_challenging_** **the DNC, and their corruption, it should be stated that the main reason why Tulsi supporters owe no apologizes**, **_why the shaming by Bernie supporters is a smear_**, apart from the difference in attitude/fight/approach to “challenging the establishment”, is because they do have some radically important differences in platform and policy, and we should feel free to vote for the candidate that best reflects our own views.\n\n**So let’s identify and compare some of them**.\n — -\n\nDue to a limit on length on Steemit, the contrast between Bernie and Gabbard’s policies will have to be a separate part. This part was meant to demonstrate the difference between Tulsi and Bernie in their approaches to “challenging the establishment”, and how the manner in which they ran their campaign, rather than the substance of the differences between them on important issues. Even though the primary is over, identifying and acknowledging the differences between their actions, legislative careers, and platforms is crucial for the future, and future elections. \n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQ4BCQmLzSD6BFWov5hZ2iz2cPgvioXy4pMjjygoLzxjQ/image.png)\n\nBernie Sanders should be a blue print for what *not* to look for in a candidate, and a reminder to keep a critical eye even on our favorite political candidates to look for neglection or of issues, or blind spots or stains on their platform - and this includes everyone no exceptions, even Gabbard supporters. No one is perfect, and the idea is to elect the person who *best* reflects our views...but when you settle on a candidate.....that doesn't mean to put on rose colored glasses and ignore any and all criticism of them.*If anything*, we should know more than others about our own candidate, and we should strive to know their flaws and weaknesses in order to push them into better positions, rather than pretending that they are perfect and those flaws don't exist. \n\n***The real problem*** is when candidates themselves are resistant to legitimate criticism, and their supporters defend their flaws, positions, and actions that deserve a degree of criticism. When populists like Sanders consistently appease the corporate democrats and even assist them in their efforts and agenda, foreign policy and domestic, and vote with them 98% of the time, even helping campaign for some of the worst of them, followers should suspend their preconceived notions and question whether Sanders was truly working against the establishment or not. What if he was working with them, as Chris Hedges and [Paul Street](https://prn.fm/bernie-out-of-the-closet-sanders-longstanding-deal-with-the-democrats-paul-street/) suggested? \n>\"As Hedges explained in a recent interview on the Ralph Nader Radio Hour, Sanders’ candidacy lends undeserved credibility to the thoroughly corporatized Democratic Party. Sanders has pledged that he will support the corporatist military hawk Hillary Clinton in the 2016 general presidential election. Sanders stirs up legitimate progressive energy and popular anger and then 'funnels it back into a dead political system,” Hedges observes. Sanders fails to confront the American Empire and military state, and, Hedges adds, has unforgivably “abandoned the Palestinians and given carte blanche to Israel.' \"\n\nRegarding the quote of Hedges directly above, it is worth noting that Gabbard's views on Isreal/Palestine is probably one of her weakest points, and while its worth pushing her on that issue going into the future, the point being made is that Sanders foreign policy is full of blunders and support for interventionism. This will be discussed shortly ahead. \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I love bernie, but most of his supporters pay little attention to his foreign policy. Only touting the few times he gets it right (Iraq/Iran) but ignoring the many times he gets it wrong. <br>As president, he has way more power over foreign policy than domestic</p> Cory Scott 🌺 (@coryascott) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/coryascott/status/1228870383723372546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 16, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n***The problem is when these same \"populists\" on leashes cant bring themselves to stand up for themselves, their supporters, or their movement,*** and go on to partake in smear campaigns against their own campaigns - such as Russiagate. **The problem with** ***\"populists\"*** **that consistently bow to the ruling establishment and fail to challenge them headon is that they, wittingly or unwittingly, effectively act as \"controlled opposition\"**: ***they stagnate, dampen, and ultimately hurt the populist political movements that they are supposed to represent and champion.***\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXGQrHryZaLp7jY8R9suZ75d1BJa5noYs13MKJKertbip/image.png)\n\nNow lets get on to the issues...in the next part. You can find the next part by going to my profile, following me, and look for the next article posted after this one.",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"tulsi\",\"gabbard\",\"bernie\",\"sanders\",\"politics\",\"progressive\",\"election\",\"reform\"],\"users\":[\"nomorewars2\",\"cameron8digi\",\"drjillstein\",\"suzi3d\",\"nicolesganga\",\"ggreenwald\",\"primonutmeg\",\"grumpybirdies\",\"kylekulinski\",\"mtracey\",\"ventuckyspaz\",\"theprogsoapbox\",\"coryascott\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZmTrwzSTjYW85r7CcvLH9dBPQ8gLAbWddA3K5PqP9iHY/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaNNiUnggkEyxSiTjaSKN4bmmbiwebokMMpzLKhhnXARb/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRMvmvwRPDhki4AbeWh8J7C3bbPjD3nbM7Vj89tj5kDd3/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYyrsFgNYmFLLwLcMbGNqbQ2M3drKgu7tdYdtD4ETQZac/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPVi21dFuj5u6pm5fphiGY6TWbMxMBbqKpkckzLY7vZvc/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbVcN9rmJvAbMk6CwzmSdUtJwS9ssS6mjDCAT3AdKREet/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRB7LXbPDYAvJWmVL71DJAufhMS7RNL8gmxqDNEvx7SSE/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbzUJxHKk42sLiFmgTFGkHXuZXCvRRnHFAoshkXejxRBh/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWh6g1kS4BzUHjkGUhqbhHg1su8Wn7is5A7DgYKNpyopL/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUegCgwxeaCRK2ZHKffji9txqPmJS1tumJiio82ZmF6vQ/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTiVpDBgxbiTpTpvS2HBfUA2Mdp63G9FiAaPRDaLU6sEi/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYXjjJK4iVRVqxHtancX9Sm7UwVNPyKDAVQ71739n8nrg/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYfzh7CGSwjkKGGGQ2ApQvhEcSZvW18eoDzZ5CZbg6btt/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcZCPpEp6dRFy474iQnhstkigqTAWwCxgWjaYA1dnLLmC/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQ4BCQmLzSD6BFWov5hZ2iz2cPgvioXy4pMjjygoLzxjQ/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXGQrHryZaLp7jY8R9suZ75d1BJa5noYs13MKJKertbip/image.png\"],\"links\":[\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.salon.com%2F2020%2F01%2F27%2Fare-tom-perez-and-the-dnc-preparing-for-a-battle-against-bernie-sanders-and-the-left_partner%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthegrayzone.com%2F2020%2F01%2F27%2Fdnc-perez-regime-change-agents-israel-lobbyists-wall-street-rig-game-bernie%2Famp%2F%3F__twitter_impression%3Dtrue\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftownhall.com%2Ftipsheet%2Fjuliorosas%2F2020%2F02%2F07%2Fdnc-chair-tom-perez-refuses-to-accept-responsibility-for-the-chaos-in-iowa-n2560943\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FNoMoreWars2\",\"https://twitter.com/cameron8digi/status/1218952611715592198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fnews%2F2020%2F01%2F31%2Fdnc-superdelegates-1100830\",\"https://twitter.com/_nalexander/status/1223389253943668739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tulsi2020.com%2Ftom-perez\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwikileaks.org%2Fpodesta-emails%2F%3Fq%3D%26mfrom%3D%26mto%3D%26title%3D%26notitle%3D%26date_from%3D%26date_to%3D%26nofrom%3D%26noto%3D%26count%3D50%26sort%3D6\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdcpizzagate.wordpress.com%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FFiorella_Im\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/DemExit?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/DNCRigging?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/3JkXoVLYHe\",\"https://twitter.com/DrJillStein/status/1223439243621621761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fmattduss%2Fstatus%2F1217130566304305154\",\"https://twitter.com/Barnes_Law/status/1224560356967641088?s=19\",\"https://twitter.com/Suzi3D/status/1218007382414057472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FTomPerez%2Fstatus%2F1224871061558349826%3Fs%3D19%25C2%25A0\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FNicoleSganga%2Fstatus%2F1226527759184355328\",\"https://twitter.com/DNC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/WMUR9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/NicoleSganga/status/1226527759184355328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FDNC%2Fstatus%2F1224456542478462977\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapnews.com%2F5232ce5601996c1de440806ad30fa4fb\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/IowaCaucus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/HandMarkedPaperBallots?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RiskLimitingAudits?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RankedChoiceVoting?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/DrJillStein/status/1224756974211993606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1224816730742099969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FPrimonutmeg\",\"https://twitter.com/PRIMONUTMEG/status/1224865839486316544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/mugrimm/status/1224722204887322624\",\"https://twitter.com/grumpybirdieS/status/1224740787591766016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/10KATfxkJd\",\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1224844829219328000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/Ventuckyspaz/status/1225976930551267328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/aPFPhaKXhT\",\"https://twitter.com/theProgSoapbox/status/1225201636408209409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://prn.fm/bernie-out-of-the-closet-sanders-longstanding-deal-with-the-democrats-paul-street/\",\"https://twitter.com/coryascott/status/1228870383723372546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "85b71abcafa725d1dc1da8bc18463df0de6f7ed2",
  "block": 48696322,
  "trx_in_block": 1,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-11-18T04:13:51",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "tulsigabbard",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "bernie-vs-tulsi-how-to-identify-controlled-opposition",
      "title": "Bernie vs Tulsi: How to Identify Controlled Opposition",
      "body": "### Bernie vs Tulsi: How to Identify Controlled Opposition\n\n#### Bernie bros vote shamed Tulsi voters, but who should feel shame?\n\nI wrote the backbone of this before Gabbard dropped out, as I did the last 2 parts of the series that were released. I put it aside became I became demoralized with her dropping out prematurely to endorse Biden. However, this article having been written but not published has weighed on me. Watching the progression of this election, I feel the need to finally release it. I have turned the present tense into the past tense and updated to include some recent events.\n\n---\n\n **Smear: Tulsi was stealing Bernie’s votes \n Reality: Bernie supporters used this smear to shame Tulsi supporters, many of whom were Bernie supporters in 2016 — including myself.** \n\n**Tulsi has shown nothing but respect towards Bernie. She was actually his biggest supporter in 2016.** **_But_** **_there is a reason she was running against him in 2020_** — there were clear distinctions between the Sanders campaign and Tulsi’s, **_distinctions that Gabbard and supporters such as myself evidently believed to be important._** It was not our fault that Bernie couldn’t represent us and give us a solid voice, if one at all, on vital issues we cared about.\n\n**I was an _avid_ Bernie supporter myself in 2016,** and so this smear particularly irritated me. _When Bernie endorsed Hillary at the convention, it made many of his supporters, including myself, feel betrayed._ We fought so hard to get him in such a good position, maybe even farther than many anticipated, and then he unnecessarily threw in the towel at the final stretch. _But the Clinton endorsement could have been forgiven if he had not_ **_proceeded to help campaign for Clinton after_** [**_she conspired with the DNC to steal his nomination_**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2017%2F11%2F02%2Fex-dnc-chair-reveals-how-clinton-rigged-dem-primary%2F) _(talk_ [_about interference in elections_](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fberniesanders%2Fstatus%2F1100209415796523009)), even going on to help perpetuate the Russia gate madness after she lost. **Sanders put much, _if not all_, of the blame on Russia, and little to none on the DNC and Clinton.**\n\nAdmittedly, this being updated and published after Gabbard left the race during the coronavirus outbreak before going on to endorse Biden… Tulsi prematurely stopping her campaign instead of taking it to the convention made me feel similar to when Bernie prematurely threw in the towel and endorsed Clinton in 2016. However, to her defense, she _did_ join all other democrats in the race, including Sanders, in [pledging to support the eventual nominee](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.inquisitr.com%2F5785301%2Ftulsi-gabbard-pledge-democratic-party-nominee%2Famp%2F). **The key difference between the two concessions however is that Tulsi has not gone on to campaign for Biden and** [**shame her voters into voting for someone who does little to nothing to represent them**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.in%2Fentry%2Fbernie-supporters-irresponsible-oppose-joe-biden_n_5e964b2ac5b65eae709bd0b4%3Fri18n%3Dtrue) **— _as Bernie did in 2016 for Clinton and has been shamelessly doing in 2020 for Biden._**\n\n**Bernie has been campaigning for Biden, even going on to preposterously** [**claim that Biden would be “the most progressive president since FDR**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fpolitics%2Fbiden-most-progressive-president-fdr-sanders)**”**…**_meanwhile Gabbard had dropped out, endorsed Biden_** as the eventual nominee.. **_but has been silent on the matter since. No vote shaming or patronizing as_** [**_Bernie has done_**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.in%2Fentry%2Fbernie-supporters-irresponsible-oppose-joe-biden_n_5e964b2ac5b65eae709bd0b4%3Fri18n%3Dtrue)**_._** During the primaries, **Gabbard also had consistently acknowledged the DNC’s bias/interference that was working against her, _which Bernie had consistently avoided and deflected from._**\n\n**Tulsi did not only defend herself better, swinging back with no fear while Bernie was prone to** [**needless apologies**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F2020%2F01%2F21%2Fbernie-sanders-apologizes-joe-biden-over-corruption-op-ed%2F4528516002%2F), **but her policy platform and history had some significant differences compared to Bernie’s**— _policy differences on issues that matter_ — **_alot_**. After all, the Commander-in-chief, the most powerful person in the world, should be chosen based off of substance and policy. **The pressure on supporters of candidates such as Tulsi** (Yang too) **to coagulate into Bernie’s camp because he had a better chance of winning was manipulative and reprehensible, as ex-Bernie supporters such as myself remember being attacked and shamed in 2016 by Hillary’s camp under the same premise of needing to** “**_unite against Trump_**”, **even if that meant abandoning our core principles and values.**\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">You know what’s especially nefarious about the Dem party leadership is that they bully their own base. If voters don’t obey &amp; submit to their demands, they’re abused, slandered, manipulated &amp; gaslighted by those Dem leaders, &amp; the other broken down/conditioned voters. It’s sick!</p>  #ProgressiveParty (@GottaBernNow) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/GottaBernNow/status/1229610628697845760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 18, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nTulsi's husband would tweet on the matter -\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Saying Tulsi needs to drop out to not hurt Bernie’s chances sounds like when ppl said Bernie needed to drop out to not ruin Hillary’s chances. Tulsi put more on the line to support him than most, and still pays the price. Why she’s running? Listen to what she’s saying <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tulsi2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Tulsi2020</a></p> Abraham Williams 🌺 (@abewilliamsdp) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/abewilliamsdp/status/1205333015951552517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 13, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\nAs [Tulsi said in the context of defending Bernie against Hillary Clinton](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FWMUR9%2Fstatus%2F1219761641706926082%3Fs%3D19)’s most recent attacks on Sanders-\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&quot;This isn&#39;t high school.&quot; In interview with <a href=\"https://twitter.com/WMUR9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@WMUR9</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TulsiGabbard</a> reacts to <a href=\"https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@HillaryClinton</a>&#39;s &quot;nobody likes him&quot; dig vs. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/BernieSanders?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@BernieSanders</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/FITN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FITN</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/nhpolitics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#nhpolitics</a> via <a href=\"https://twitter.com/AdamSextonWMUR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@AdamSextonWMUR</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/aKm0XaQiAd\">pic.twitter.com/aKm0XaQiAd</a></p> WMUR TV (@WMUR9) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/WMUR9/status/1219761641706926082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\n> “Look, **it’s time to grow up. This isn’t high school. We are talking about real challenges that our country that our country needs to address**, **and the need for real leadership to focus on them**. Not in what’s going on in Washington and ‘the schoolyard clicks’ or whatever else it may be — **there are real issues that people are struggling with and they’re wondering why are our leaders not working for us. This is why I am running for president** — to change that, because Washington is so disconnected from the reality of what people deal with everyday.”\n\n**Not only did Gabbard step down as vice chairwoman from the DNC** months prior to the 2016 convention **to endorse Bernie**, but **she fought harder for him than he did himself at the 2016 convention, where she officially nominated Sanders after he had already handed the nomination to Clinton on a silver platter** by endorsing her instead of making a historic speech. At the convention, **Sanders was nominated ahead of roll-call by Gabbard** _who called his campaign a “movement of love and compassion”_. [The Hill would report](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fblogs%2Fballot-box%2Fdem-primaries%2F289323-sanders-formally-nominated-for-president),\n\n> “**_Though Sanders has repeatedly pushed his supporters to back Hillary Clinton for president_**, **Gabbard didn’t echo his unity message in her speech.**\n\n> **Gabbard was one of only a handful of lawmakers who formally endorsed Sanders and was one of the campaign’s superdelegates.** She stepped down from her post at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to support Sanders.\n\n> **_Paul Feeney,_** _Sanders’s Massachusetts and Connecticut state director_, spoke after Gabbard, urging the party to unite around Clinton ahead of the fall fight against Donald Trump.”\n\n**Sanders supporters would be noted to have repeatedly interrupted the new DNC chairwoman**, **Marcia Fudge, by chanting “Bernie”**. **_Marcia Fudge_ replaced** **_Debbie Wasserman Schultz_ as DNC chairwoman following a massive Wikileaks dump that** “[**_showed DNC officials giving preference to presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the prolonged primary contest against Sanders_**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Fstoryline%2F2016-conventions%2Fwasserman-schultz-gets-booed-florida-convention-breakfast-n616161)**_”_**.\n\n**_So_**,**the DNC was caught actively** [**rigging the election in favor of Clinton**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nydailynews.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fdonna-brazile-finally-admits-giving-debate-questions-clinton-article-1.3002221) **becoming the nominee**, _and instead of challenging it,_ **Bernie simply capitulated to it, endorsing Clinton** _instead of bringing attention to election interference and resisting_— allowing the DNC to smooth it under the rug — **and then proceeded to help campaign for the woman who rigged the nomination against him** — _all with no shame_. [Chris Hedges eloquently conveyed the frustration of disenfranchised Sanders supporters](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fwanderlustyogi%2Fstatus%2F1171024544905269248%3Fs%3D19), including myself, by stating,\n\n> “**_Sanders squandered his most important historical moment_**. He had a chance, once chance, to take the energy, anger and momentum, walk out the doors of the Wells Fargo Center and into the streets to help build a third-party movement. **His call to delegates to face “reality” and support Clinton was an insulting repudiation of the reality his supporters**, mostly young men and young women, **had over overcome by lifting him from an obscure candidate polling at 12 percent into a serious contender for the nomination. Sanders not only sold out his base, he mocked it. This was a spiritual wound, not a political one. _For this he must ask forgiveness_”.**\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I sincerely wish I could be as enthusiastic about Bernie as I was in 2015 and 2016. He&#39;s my second pick but everything feels bad now. At the risk of sounding ridiculous, I think I may be somewhat traumatized by 2016.</p> Leann 🕊🌺🦇 (@Lee_Devious) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Lee_Devious/status/1224086430600835077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 2, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nNot only did it feel like betrayal to those of us that put so much energy into getting him to such a prominent position by the time the convention rolled around, but [**Bernie’s constant parroting of the Russiagate narrative**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fberniesanders%2Fstatus%2F1100209415796523009) **to blame Trump’s election on Russia, rather than chastising the DNC for interfering in our democracy and conspiring with the Clinton campaign, was further disappointment**… And it has continued up until this point, shamelessly.\n\nThe #DNCFraudLawsuit was a debacle, with the [DNC arguing in court that they are allowed to favor a candidate, and have no obligation to provide a level playing field..an admission of guilt, arguing that the election rigging they were guilty of is not a punishable crime](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fobserver.com%2F2017%2F08%2Fcourt-admits-dnc-and-debbie-wasserman-schulz-rigged-primaries-against-sanders%2F). You can’t make this stuff up\n![dncadmitfraud.jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcGVfrx6W9dk2Dwq3HNLe42w3DzFkHomy2QXPNjecaPcu/dncadmitfraud.jpeg)\n\n**There have been ample opportunities to challenge Russiagate and condemn the** [**DNC’s interference**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnews%2Fthe-fix%2Fwp%2F2017%2F11%2F02%2Fex-dnc-chair-goes-at-the-clintons-alleging-hillarys-campaign-hijacked-dnc-during-primary-with-bernie-sanders%2F), **_many of them direct attacks on Sanders.._** **and he fails to seize them**. For instance, [**take this interview between Hillary Clinton and Howard Stern** which Town Hall reports on](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftownhall.com%2Ftipsheet%2Fbronsonstocking%2F2019%2F12%2F05%2Fhillary-clinton-hints-bernie-sanders-might-be-a-russian-asset-n2557570), **in which Hillary claims that the Russians were doing everything in their power to help elect Sanders**, **_before going on to add that he could have endorsed her quicker_**.\n\n> “While elaborating on her conspiracy theory of how Russia stole the election from her, **the two-time presidential loser told Howard Stern that the Russians also wanted to do everything they could to help elect Bernie Sanders**.\n\n> ‘_You know, basically, \\[the Russians\\] were like, hey, let’s do everything we can to elect Donald Trump,_’ Hillary explained to Stern. ‘_Those are words. And they also said Bernie Sanders, but, you know, that’s for another day.’_\n‘Do we hate Bernie Sanders?’ Stern felt compelled to ask.\n ‘No. I don’t hate anybody,’ Clinton responded.\n ‘_Bernie could have endorsed you quicker_,’ Stern prodded.\n ‘_He could have. He hurt me. There’s no doubt about it_,’ Clinton admitted.\n ‘Have you ever spoken to Bernie about that?’ Stern continued. ‘No,’ Hillary answered.\n ‘Do you ever talk to him?’ Stern asked.\n ‘I don’t talk to him,’ Hillary said. “_I mean we did when he finally endorsed me and all that.”_\n ‘But you’re upset with him,’ Stern followed up.\n _‘No. I’m disappointed_,’ Hillary explained. ‘_Disappointed. Ok. And I hope he doesn’t do it again to whoever gets the nomination. Once is enough. We have to join forces.’_ ”\n\nHillary said she “**_hopes he doesn’t do it again to whoever gets the nomination_**”… **But there is a problem with that statement**….[**Sanders had endorsed Clinton before the nomination, before the convention**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2016%2F07%2F11%2Fpolitics%2Fhillary-clinton-bernie-sanders%2Findex.html).[..as](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2016%2F07%2F11%2Fpolitics%2Fhillary-clinton-bernie-sanders%2Findex.html%29***..as) previously acknowledged by the excerpt above discussing Gabbard’s formal nomination of Sanders at the DNC convention *(after Bernie had already endorsed Clinton).* **_Bernie did not respond to the McCarthyism and seemed to take the “unity” lecture to heart, tweeting about a month later:_**\n![letsbecleariggingsanders.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRKDgtLVB71JYYtQZV9vh6hYwM8Ln4QxSnJmL7fsAM8Fr/letsbecleariggingsanders.png)\n\n**Weak. This is Bernie bending over backwards for the people who actively interfered in the “democratic” process to steal his nomination. Bernie not only used Trump’s allegation of the “_DNC rigging the election again against Bernie Sanders, just like last time_**”**to deflect to Russiagate,** but **he provided an implied denial of the DNC bias against his campaign, rather than acknowledging the truth of the matter**. Tulsi in that position would certainty not have rolled over to the DNC by deflecting and peddling Russiagate while ignoring and denying internal DNC interference against herself. **3 days after Bernie’s response to Trump above,** [**Clinton would attack Bernie again**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2Ffeatures%2Fhillary-clinton-full-a-fiery-new-documentary-trump-regrets-harsh-words-bernie-1271551)**,** claiming that **_“_**[**_nobody likes him_**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheantimedia.com%2Fnobody-likes-him-hillary-clinton-not-sure-shell-endorse-bernie-sanders%2F)**_”._** _If that doesn’t show she is out-of-touch, I don’t know what does._ Bernie didn’t respond.\n\n**Many sympathetic to Bernie’s platform feel that _instead of_** [**_him apologizing to corrupt centrist Neolibs like Biden_**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fbernie-sanders-apologizes-to-joe-biden-for-surrogates-op-ed-alleging-he-has-a-big-corruption-problem-today-2020-01-20%2F) (who was the frontrunner at time of writing and is the president according to half the country at the time of publishing) **_for their corruption, he should be continuing to call it out._ In a primary between Sanders and the other Democrats**, **_a competition to decide who will be the democratic nominee_**, **if you were to observe Bernie’s twitter feed over any given period of time during his campaign trail, the majority of its substance is** [**differentiating between himself and Trump rather than differentiating himself from other potential democratic nominees**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FBernieSanders%2Fstatus%2F1223360740767088640%3Fs%3D19), **_along with calling for unity._**\n\nHillary Clinton must be proud. **In situations where he can and should stand his ground, maybe even go on the offensive and take some, he instead gives ground to those who have already smeared him and attacked his movement.** Instead of attacking the Russiagate narrative that was partially used to belittle and deflect from the grievances of his movement and supporters, he instead was complicit in propagating it. \n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcYZb4KrsBkvWHSR76P7urq3FngT3c4t9LEePJP1HQbZ5/image.png)\n\n**Many voters sympathetic to or supportive of a variety of Bernie’s policies would wish to see him respond to attacks in a more assertive and aggressive manner. Whether it be Clinton, Biden, Warren, or the DNC.**\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">When most of the dem candidates talk about unity, they mean within their own ideological wing or the democratic party itself. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnlyTulsi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#OnlyTulsi</a> actually speaks to all Americans, about the good of our country as a whole, for a <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/MorePerfectUnion?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#MorePerfectUnion</a>. America wins when we <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinWithTulsi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#WinWithTulsi</a>.</p> Naomi 🎎 #Biden2020 #Tulsi2024 (@girlyGRRRL) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/girlyGRRRL/status/1224790128326918144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 4, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n---\nWhen **Bernie apologized to Biden for a surrogate writing an** [**op-ed**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fcommentisfree%2F2020%2Fjan%2F20%2Fjoe-biden-corruption-donald-trump) **that claimed Biden has a _“big corruption problem”,_** many progressives started to feel disgruntled and misrepresented.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is so weak. Stop apologizing for saying the truth about corrupt right-wing neoliberals<br><br>The lesson of the crucifixion of Corbyn is never give these hyenas an inch, or they&#39;ll take a thousand miles<br><br>No compromising with or apologizing to class enemies<a href=\"https://t.co/hKEVoAYqDc\">https://t.co/hKEVoAYqDc</a></p> Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1219706705585549312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">If Bernie doesn&#39;t start defending himself, yet alone pushing back, he&#39;s toast.<br><br>Enough of these polite pleasantries. As they crucified Corbyn, he kept apologizing until the end.<br><br>No more compromises with class enemies. <a href=\"https://t.co/B00vxWiI2R\">https://t.co/B00vxWiI2R</a></p> Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1219705920810291201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Regardless of what you think about Tulsi, this is exactly how to respond to attacks from right-wing neoliberal war criminals like Hillary Clinton<br><br>Hillary wants to destroy Bernie, and is trying to do it as we speak. So he needs to defend himself<a href=\"https://t.co/uK2r5OIty2\">https://t.co/uK2r5OIty2</a></p> Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1219707703062343680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n**Even people who didn’t support Tulsi as their candidate of choice appreciated this head-on approach of responding to smears and attacks**. **_The opposite of this is Bernie’s approach_**, avoiding eye-contact and giving the bully what they want.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I’m sorry but I don’t trust Bernie after he got cheated and then folded promoting the criminals who screwed him over.<br><br>If he folded to Hillary he will fold to the Military and prison industrial complex that he promises to fight. <a href=\"https://t.co/HXYG5ceMYC\">pic.twitter.com/HXYG5ceMYC</a></p> Luke Rudkowski (@Lukewearechange) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Lukewearechange/status/1224557244416774144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 4, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nIn regard to Bernie’s defense of Biden and stifling of his surrogate’s criticism of his opponent’s _very_ real corruption problem, Michael Tracy would tweet,\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The impeachment trial involving Biden means Dems are forced to withhold criticisms of Biden lest they be perceived as undermining the case against Trump. Just in case you need more evidence that this impeachment junk is a total fiasco.</p> Michael Tracey (@mtracey) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1219503677297319936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nTo which Currie Dobson would reply,\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Bernie isn&#39;t being forced to do anything. He is choosing to bend to the will of the establishment just like he did in 2016. He could stand up for himself and by extension for us but instead he would rather protect the ruling class and throw the rest of us under the bus.</p> Currie Dobson (@Ventuckyspaz) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Ventuckyspaz/status/1219526402766016512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nJimmy Dore would comment on Bernie's apology for his surrogate's op-ed:\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQRFXa5w2K879587kRFTyc9ouu3t3romMQRvuLUr16GgQ/image.png)\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPx6DwayHHFZsMWmjfECxNVbn7ywPPwLpbs91KALXfzaC/image.png)\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Obama to Hillary in 2008: &quot;While I was working on those streets watching those folks see their jobs shipped overseas, you were a corporate lawyer sitting on the board of Walmart&quot; <br><br>But somehow Bernie is completely hamstrung from responding to his attackers? Please explain</p> Michael Tracey (@mtracey) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1217844351168020480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 16, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nTracey provoked multiple responses that offered explanations to his prompt…\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNfRdvuUvgvqypFNfFWCd6oFhExhfeRV3UQdJyHabSZRE/image.png)\n\nThe end of the Consent Factory's article sarcastically reads,\n\n**“Oh, yeah, and in case you’re worried about Bernie backing the empire’s ongoing regime change op in Venezuela, don’t be**. **_He’s just playing 4D chess_**, li_ke Obama did throughout his presidency, by pretending to do the empire’s bidding while he actually went about the business of resurrecting hope and eradicating racism._ **_Bernie’s just being sly like that!_ It might seem like he’s aligning himself with mass murdering thugs like Elliot Abrams and sadistic ass freaks like Marco Rubio, but he isn’t. _Not really. It’s just an act. I mean, he has to get elected, doesn’t he_**?”\n\nAnother response to Tracy's tweet read - \n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZMYp3i9hivHMpUeRDrftU4ikVwMPMvELPBi1AZFGUiWq/image.png)\n\n@NoMoreWars2, prompting **a comparison between Tulsi and Bernie’s responses to Clinton, was referring to** [**Tulsi’s famous “Queen of Warmongerers” twee**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FTulsiGabbard%2Fstatus%2F1185289626409406464%3Fref_src%3Dtwsrc%255Etfw%257Ctwcamp%255Etweetembed%257Ctwterm%255E1185289626409406464%26ref_url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.breitbart.com%252Fpolitics%252F2019%252F10%252F18%252Ftulsi-gabbard-rips-hillary-clinton-queen-of-warmongers%252F)**t, a strong show of strength stand-alone, let alone compared to Bernie’s meek silence and deflection**. Days after the tweet above, [**Tulsi Gabbard would sue Hillary Clinton for 50 million dollars**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fnews%2F2020%2F01%2F22%2Ftulsi-gabbard-sues-hillary-clinton-over-russian-asset-smear-102074)[.](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fnews%2F2020%2F01%2F22%2Ftulsi-gabbard-sues-hillary-clinton-over-russian-asset-smear-102074%29.**) _Needless to say, Bernie and Tulsi go about defending themselves and “challenging the establishment” in a very different manner._ **_Why? Why is Bernie incapable of confrontation with corporate-owned ideological opponents in the DNC that are a bigger threat to preventing progressive change than the GOP who bears the weight of all his criticism?_**\n\nThe quote that @NoMoreWars2 displayed was from an article titled, **_“_**[**_Bernie Sanders Phantom Movement_**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.truthdig.com%2Farticles%2Fbernie-sanders-phantom-movement%2F)**_”_** by [**Chris Hedges**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.truthdig.com%2Fauthor%2Fchris_hedges%2F)**. In the article, Hedges alludes to how Bernie is essentially what many would call controlled opposition —** or in his words — **How Bernie is “_part of the Democratic establishment’s campaign to neutralize the left_”.** \n\n> “**Sanders is, in all but title, a Democrat. He is a member of the Democratic caucus. He votes 98 percent of the time with the Democrats**. **_He routinely backs appropriations for imperial wars, the corporate scam of Obamacare, wholesale surveillance and bloated defense budgets. He campaigned for Bill Clinton in the 1992 presidential race and again in 1996_** — **_after Clinton had rammed through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), vastly expanded the system of mass incarceration and destroyed welfare_** — **_and for John Kerry in 2004. He called on Ralph Nader in 2004 to abandon his presidential campaign._ The Democrats recognize his value. They have long rewarded Sanders for his role as a sheepherder**.”\n\nIn 2015, **the year before Hedges wrote the article from which the above excerpt comes, _Paul Street_ wrote a piece** for CounterPunch titled, **“**[**Bernie Out of the Closet: Sanders’ Longstanding Deal with the Democrats**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.counterpunch.org%2F2015%2F07%2F21%2Fbernie-out-of-the-closet-sanders-longstanding-deal-with-the-democrats%2F)**”** which detailed how **Sanders made a deal with the DNC** that was essentially an agreement for Sanders to stifle the then-growing threat of a 3rd party movement in Vermont in exchange for the DNC not supporting a candidate to run against him. \n\n> **_Sanders did not_ “fight the Democratic establishment in Vermont his entire career.”** As the left University of Vermont philosopher [Will Miller noted in a 1999 essay](https://medium.com/r/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.libertyunionparty.org%2F%3Fpage_id%3D363) **recounting left peace activists’ occupation of then U.S. Congressman Bernie Sanders’ Burlington, Vermont office to protest Sanders’ support of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and the ongoing U.S. War on Iraq, Sanders sold out to the corporate and war Democrats as early as 1990.**\n\n> Between 1981 and 1988, it is true, **Sanders “presented himself to the left outside of Vermont as the leader of the third party movement, vanquishing the two major parties in every Mayoral election**.” **But in 1988,** Sanders got a lesson on the perils of third party politics when he ran for federal office. **In the election for Vermont’s seat in the House of Representatives, the independent Sanders and Democrat Paul Poirer divided the majority vote and the contest went to a Republican. Sanders responded by drifting right and cutting a deal with the Vermont Democrats: the party would permit no serious candidate to run against him while he blocked serious third party formation in Vermont and adopted positions in line with the national corporate war Democrats.**\n\n**Infamous Democratic National Committee Chairman** and **former Vermont Governor** **Howard Dean**, once described Sanders as an “**_ally who votes with the Democrats ninety eight percent of the time.”_**\n\n> The “independent” Sanders has enjoyed a special agreement with the Democratic leadership in the U.S. Senate. He votes with the Democrats on all procedural matters in exchange for the committee seats and seniority that would be available to him as a Democrat.\n\nPaul Street would also write that,\n\n> **Consistent with this party loyalty, Sanders refuses to seriously or substantively criticize his “good friend” and Democratic presidential primary “rival” Mrs. Clinton** — a militantly corporatist and militarist right-wing Democrat. **Sanders has backed Obama’s numerous murderous military actions and provocations around the world, from Libya, Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Iraq to China, Ukraine, and Russia.”**\n\nOn a related note, Steer would write the following:\n\n> **In his presidential campaign** speeches, **Sanders has been unwilling to mention the corporatized Democratic Party as part of the nation’s oligarchy problem**. _Presidential candidate John Edwards fulminated consistently against “corporate Democrats as well as corporate Republicans”_ when he ran in the Iowa Caucus eight years ago. **Sanders, by contrast, focuses almost completely on corporate Republicans.**\n\n**_Keep in mind, that was written in 2015_** for the last election cycle. **The same dynamic of Bernie focusing on the corporate Republicans(mainly Trump) and completely turning a blind eye to corporate democrats had persisted into and through his 2020 campaign.** \n\n**When one of Bernie’s “surrogates”, Representative Tlaib, booed Hillary Clinton, she would subsequently apologize after many attacked Bernie for Tlaib’s actions, to the dismay of much of Bernie’s base**..\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPAhL84enBW4qzjfV3t8NuZvyuBYADfxryNd8KMKUeM5N/image.png)\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPkx8ykKRdjLkFFkMmNbgvYCekHAQmSjiQv1634eywMSf/image.png)\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXKEP59g5U7aXi7isQiHJAzhxgSeXpGSEVCSdXqcd9DWu/image.png)\n\nTlaib’s apology raised eyebrows. _Hillary had constantly attacked Bernie, so it should be acceptable to display discontent with the woman that stole his nomination and gave us Trump._ **The people demanding an apology from Tlaib did not say anything through Clinton’s smears of Bernie — Clinton was allowed to drag Bernie’s name through the mud without protest, but God-forbid Bernie or his political surrogates reciprocate. But despite the justification,** **_Tlaib mysteriously gave in to the neoliberal outrage and apologized._**\n\n**Throughout Bernie’s campaign there had existed a consistent and observable pattern of conceding to the establishment**, and not speaking the truth — even retroactively apologizing for it. **_Allowing the DNC establishment to influence the campaign’s narratives_** — **_what should be spoken and what couldn’t_** - is a red-flag of controlled opposition. **When Bernie’s surrogate accused Biden of having “a corruption problem”, he wasn’t wrong. So why apologize?** \n\n **While Bernie was apologizing for his surrogates, Tulsi was personally slamming Clinton on twitter, asking** **_her_ to apologize, and suing her for 50 million dollars** because of the damage not just done to her reputation, but to the country and its democracy.\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQme3FsxbAg3jEcxWcfaudEihFGibqrBHimY9QxXAvBwVcx/image.png)\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">You have my personal commitment that as president I will not be bullied by the foreign policy establishment that has been perpetuating regime change wars, a new cold war &amp; arms race. Instead of investing trillions on such wars, we must invest in the needs of the American people. <a href=\"https://t.co/rcsAF0VkOQ\">pic.twitter.com/rcsAF0VkOQ</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1213871530737721346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 5, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nTulsi didn't back down, instead, she doubled down.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I love our country. I’ve served as a soldier for nearly 17 years, deployed twice to the Middle East, and served in Congress for over 7 years. If Hillary &amp; allies can destroy my reputation by implying I am a traitor to the country I love, they can do it to anyone. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithTulsi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#StandWithTulsi</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/4t9jAyAgGk\">pic.twitter.com/4t9jAyAgGk</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1220418934844706816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 23, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nTulsi didn’t allow herself to be bullied by the democratic establishment or the powers behind it. As Tulsi supporters have pointed out in frustration …**while Bernie defended corrupt neolibs like Biden and Warren** **_after they attack him_**, **Sanders ironically failed to defend Gabbard _despite her defending him every turn of the road_**, **_her being a close ally_** on policy, **_and it being the right thing to do_**. **When CNN’s New Hampshire townhall excluded Tulsi but included candidates who were polling much lower than her,** including Deval who was polling at 0%, **it upset many who had still clung to the hope that we live in a somewhat fair democracy that isn’t \\*completely\\* controlled by a corporate oligarchy.** Many were pressuring Sanders, who CNN _did_ allow on stage, to speak up for Tulsi’s right to speak in the debate/townhall.\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRqhxq2rnUk9KUJrUETsEnTudwWCko966wCCoh6cuhC4C/image.png)\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmR61WW7FD4RJsqxubjbmjucPXfheUXp2bdrRq9YvRBfTr/image.png)\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I wish ppl weren&#39;t trying to pressure BS into defending Tulsi over this. If we have to twist his arm... 🗑️</p> Naomi 🎎 #Biden2020 #Tulsi2024 (@girlyGRRRL) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/girlyGRRRL/status/1221097968654118913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 25, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n**What was _very_ telling**, beyond the not-to-surprising erasure of Gabbard by CNN and the DNC, **was Bernie’s own form of erasure of her candidacy.**\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYC8KgQtnfSZ1ayTxoKDaFRm6mG7NAT25rd6c5EGfvKa7/image.png)\n\n**The problem with that statement? It was a blatant lie. _It wasn’t down to two… It was Three._ It was one thing for the Corporate News Network(CNN) to pretend Gabbard wasn’t in the race, it was another for “progressive” Bernie Sanders to actively partake in erasure and pretend she was already out.**\n\nBut ***Sanders failing to defend Tulsi is to be expected, as he does a poor job of defending himself, let alone other people***. Warren’s attack on Sanders was arguably worse than Hillary Clinton’s attack, not just because of the method of attack, but because it was in the back - **Warren, after posing and posturing as an ally for months during the campaign, would turn around and [claim that Sanders said in a private meeting that a woman cannot be president](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F2020%2F01%2F13%2Felizabeth-warren-says-sanders-didnt-think-woman-could-president%2F4461106002%2F)**.\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRxWSy3Z2vPS2ZhE1yEeHhvEAbPFdu4YwaduHQzqmZxif/image.png)\n\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUToGEbRBQXEAbFUtbNeSYL7L1J2cdzgBUgmwv1GbKn8z/image.png)\n\n\n*Not sure why that twitter user dug up that clip to contradict Warren's claim and not Bernie or his campaign, but I digress* - **Sanders and Warren were close**… ***[the Sanders campaign was even considering appointing Warren as both Vice President and Secretary of Treasury](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheintercept.com%2F2020%2F01%2F17%2Fsanders-warren-vice-president-treasury-secretary%2F%5C)***, *researching constitutional law to confirm that those positions were not mutually exclusive, as it has never been done before*, ***potentially allowing her to hold both positions at the same time.*** **Warren would [double down on her claim during the 7th debate](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.startribune.com%2Fcnn-draws-fire-for-debate-question-that-ignores-denial%2F567009732%2F), with CNN moderators apparently having had taken sides**.\n\n![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTu7wsr8bijxaLwAcMpVJPBKQSVUqeWNyT8U8RaTZYBSg/image.png)\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Thinking back I&#39;m not sure even Hillary pulled an anti-Bernie stunt as egregious as whatever Warren&#39;s up to at the moment</p> Michael Tracey (@mtracey) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1216877685013733376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 14, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Tulsi put her career on the line for Bernie in 2016 and defends him now as he&#39;s under attack. Liz stayed &quot;neutral&quot; when it mattered in 2016 and is now attempting to destroy Bernie. But super savvy &quot;progressives&quot; told me Tulsi was an evil imposter and Warren was his True Ally™</p> Michael Tracey (@mtracey) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/1217341801524269056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 15, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">You know who didn’t wake up this weekend &amp; decided “Let me attack Bernie after he’s defended me over and over again, since he’s beating me in the polls” <br><br>Tulsi Gabbard.</p> Kamala Kept An Innocent Man In Jail 🌺🌹✊🏾 (@nikoCSFB) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/nikoCSFB/status/1216837618270384129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 13, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n**Voters in alignment with many of Sanders policies** (_which includes a large amount of Tulsi supporters as the grievances of Bernie supporters and Tulsi supporters strongly overlap on many issues_) **wanted him to stop** [**dismissing the DNC’s corruption**](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FBernieSanders%2Fstatus%2F1218303595612950530%3Fs%3D19), **_because it did not all just magically go away._** \n\ncontinued in next part\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"app\":\"steempeak/2020.07.1\",\"format\":\"markdown\",\"tags\":[\"tulsigabbard\",\"asset\",\"campaign\",\"smear\",\"election\",\"battle\",\"biden\"],\"users\":[\"GottaBernNow\",\"abewilliamsdp\",\"WMUR9\",\"TulsiGabbard\",\"HillaryClinton\",\"BernieSanders\",\"AdamSextonWMUR\",\"Lee\",\"girlyGRRRL\",\"BenjaminNorton\",\"Lukewearechange\",\"mtracey\",\"Ventuckyspaz\",\"NoMoreWars2\",\"nikoCSFB\"],\"links\":[\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2017%2F11%2F02%2Fex-dnc-chair-reveals-how-clinton-rigged-dem-primary%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fberniesanders%2Fstatus%2F1100209415796523009\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.inquisitr.com%2F5785301%2Ftulsi-gabbard-pledge-democratic-party-nominee%2Famp%2F\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.in%2Fentry%2Fbernie-supporters-irresponsible-oppose-joe-biden_n_5e964b2ac5b65eae709bd0b4%3Fri18n%3Dtrue\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fpolitics%2Fbiden-most-progressive-president-fdr-sanders\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.in%2Fentry%2Fbernie-supporters-irresponsible-oppose-joe-biden_n_5e964b2ac5b65eae709bd0b4%3Fri18n%3Dtrue\",\"https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F2020%2F01%2F21%2Fbernie-sanders-apologizes-joe-biden-over-corruption-op-ed%2F4528516002%2F\",\"/trending/progressiveparty\",\"/@gottabernnow\",\"https://twitter.com/GottaBernNow/status/1229610628697845760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcGVfrx6W9dk2Dwq3HNLe42w3DzFkHomy2QXPNjecaPcu/dncadmitfraud.jpeg\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRKDgtLVB71JYYtQZV9vh6hYwM8Ln4QxSnJmL7fsAM8Fr/letsbecleariggingsanders.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcYZb4KrsBkvWHSR76P7urq3FngT3c4t9LEePJP1HQbZ5/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQRFXa5w2K879587kRFTyc9ouu3t3romMQRvuLUr16GgQ/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPx6DwayHHFZsMWmjfECxNVbn7ywPPwLpbs91KALXfzaC/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNfRdvuUvgvqypFNfFWCd6oFhExhfeRV3UQdJyHabSZRE/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZMYp3i9hivHMpUeRDrftU4ikVwMPMvELPBi1AZFGUiWq/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPAhL84enBW4qzjfV3t8NuZvyuBYADfxryNd8KMKUeM5N/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPkx8ykKRdjLkFFkMmNbgvYCekHAQmSjiQv1634eywMSf/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXKEP59g5U7aXi7isQiHJAzhxgSeXpGSEVCSdXqcd9DWu/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQme3FsxbAg3jEcxWcfaudEihFGibqrBHimY9QxXAvBwVcx/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRqhxq2rnUk9KUJrUETsEnTudwWCko966wCCoh6cuhC4C/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmR61WW7FD4RJsqxubjbmjucPXfheUXp2bdrRq9YvRBfTr/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYC8KgQtnfSZ1ayTxoKDaFRm6mG7NAT25rd6c5EGfvKa7/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRxWSy3Z2vPS2ZhE1yEeHhvEAbPFdu4YwaduHQzqmZxif/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUToGEbRBQXEAbFUtbNeSYL7L1J2cdzgBUgmwv1GbKn8z/image.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTu7wsr8bijxaLwAcMpVJPBKQSVUqeWNyT8U8RaTZYBSg/image.png\"]}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
  "block": 44890800,
  "trx_in_block": 4294967295,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 10,
  "timestamp": "2020-07-07T06:18:33",
  "op": [
    "author_reward",
    {
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-was-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-3",
      "sbd_payout": "0.011 SBD",
      "steem_payout": "0.000 STEEM",
      "vesting_payout": "108.879798 VESTS"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "01e2490b1aa524fe9222f8ca09fd07eaa8a5d49b",
  "block": 44720502,
  "trx_in_block": 2,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-07-01T07:01:27",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "animad",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-was-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-4",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "9da9149f39b2f656aedc344cfa8396e1043ca727",
  "block": 44719942,
  "trx_in_block": 10,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-07-01T06:33:06",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "tulsi",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-was-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-4",
      "title": "How and Why Tulsi Gabbard was Held to a Higher Standard (Part 4)",
      "body": "@@ -779,17 +779,16 @@\n d forces\n-.\n  is a ch\n@@ -794,16 +794,20 @@\n hildish \n+and \n primitiv\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"gabbard\",\"tulsigabbard\",\"homophobic\",\"smear\",\"campaign\",\"russia\",\"asset\",\"ilikebernie\"],\"users\":[\"winkleabides\",\"ventuckyspaz\",\"ggreenwald\",\"transgirlalicia\",\"bottoms4tulsi\",\"lesbians4tulsi\"],\"image\":[\"https://www.mintpressnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/5d5302c6cd97841bc207b2e4.png\",\"https://i.pinimg.com/236x/2c/60/49/2c6049711705555cde61c2f9994ff067--tulsi-gabbard-for-president.jpg\"],\"links\":[\"https://www.tulsi2020.com/about/tulsi-gabbard-military-service\",\"https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/taibbi-tulsi-gabbard-bernie-sanders-trump-2020-838156/\",\"https://theintercept.com/2018/03/29/john-bolton-trump-bush-bustani-kids-opcw/\",\"https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/russia-s-propaganda-machine-discovers-2020-democratic-candidate-tulsi-gabbard-n964261?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma\",\"https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/us/alabama-senate-roy-jones-russia.html\",\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/08/01/tulsi-gabbard-most-searched-candidate-democratic-debate/1887209001/\",\"https://activatenow.us/tulsi-gabbard-wins-first-presidential-debate-according-to-google-trends/\",\"https://www.rt.com/usa/465587-tulsi-trending-google-twitter/\",\"https://twitter.com/WinkleAbides/status/1156782203050721282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tulsi2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/DemDebate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/fgF3dZJeg8\",\"https://twitter.com/Ventuckyspaz/status/1156755525725388803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/podcast-tulsi-gabbard-kamala-harris-syria-iraq-870003/\",\"https://www.rollingstone.com/t/kamala-harris/\",\"https://www.politico.eu/article/why-the-arabs-dont-want-us-in-syria-mideast-conflict-oil-intervention/\",\"https://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/25/clinton.obama/\",\"https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/clinton-gabbard-russian-asset-jill-stein-901593/\",\"https://www.newsweek.com/ilikebernie-trends-after-hillary-clinton-says-nobody-likes-bernie-sanders-1483273\",\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/i-can-defeat-trump-and-the-clinton-doctrine-11572389508\",\"https://libertarianinvestments.com/2019/01/19/would-tulsi-gabbard-be-a-good-president/\",\"https://www.thedailybeast.com/jeffrey-epstein-unearthed-nbc-footage-appears-to-show-trump-and-epstein-rating-womens-looks-at-1992-party\",\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/us/politics/trump-epstein.html\",\"https://www.mintpressnews.com/shocking-origins-jeffrey-epstein-blackmail-roy-cohn/260621/\",\"https://www.mintpressnews.com/blackmail-jeffrey-epstein-trump-mentor-reagan-era/260760/\",\"https://www.mintpressnews.com/cybereason-investors-offer-israeli-spy-classified-intelligence/264095/\",\"https://www.mintpressnews.com/cia-israel-mossad-jeffrey-epstein-orwellian-nightmare/261692/\",\"https://www.businessinsider.com/peter-thiel-facebook-trump-biography-2018-2#soon-after-joining-facebooks-board-thiel-started-his-vc-firm-founders-fund-which-hes-best-known-for-today-12\",\"https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/williamalden/palantirs-relationship-with-americas-spies\",\"https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tn-palantir-contract-20180309-story.html\",\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/30/palantir-peter-thiel-cia-data-crime-police\",\"https://t.co/JkaldO8ljB\",\"https://twitter.com/40_Ronda/status/1203597437941768192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-trump-russia-collusion-hall-of-shame/2019/03/28/306b5168-5173-11e9-a3f7-78b7525a8d5f_story.html\",\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/opinion/mitch-mcconnell-election-security.html\",\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/inside-the-russian-effort-to-target-sanders-supporters--and-help-elect-trump/2019/04/11/741d7308-5576-11e9-8ef3-fbd41a2ce4d5_story.html\",\"https://www.tulsigabbard.org/tulsi-gabbard-on-lgbtq\",\"https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4764183/tulsi-gabbard-lgbtq-record\",\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWfwqxwSUF8&feature=youtu.be&a=\",\"http://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/115thCongressionalScorecard-Report.pdf\",\"https://www.hrc.org/hrc-story/mission-statement\",\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJOX4yqqwQE\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1085959308112809986\",\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/tulsi-gabbards-father-i-never-realized-how-much-trauma-i-put-her-through\",\"https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1084829843198480384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithTulsi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/qGshdqBRG8\",\"https://twitter.com/TransGirlAlicia/status/1207826480945913858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/Bottoms4Tulsi/status/1196923781014532096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/lesbians4tulsi/status/1276673395544010753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://gawker.com/remember-when-hillary-clinton-was-against-gay-marriage-1714147439\",\"https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/05/08/bidens-early-support-for-same-sex-marriage-still-remembered-for-impact/\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "9d9c7344bbac659d981784315bb2adfe98a843ca",
  "block": 44719816,
  "trx_in_block": 0,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-07-01T06:26:48",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "tulsi",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-was-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-4",
      "title": "How and Why Tulsi Gabbard was Held to a Higher Standard (Part 4)",
      "body": "# How and Why Tulsi Gabbard was Held to a Higher Standard \n##  Part: 3 Russian asset and homophobic smears\n---\n\n## Smear: Tulsi is a Russian asset\n## Reality: Tulsi is anti-interventionist, anti-scapegoating, patriot that fought for America as a twice-deployed combat veteran - naturally the neoconservative-neoliberal, war-mongering head ass imperialistic establishment is going to call Tulsi a Russian asset.\n\n---\n\n**While Russia** ***does*** **have something to gain by not constantly clashing with the United States in proxy wars under a Gabbad presidency, not letting Russia “win” by refusing to take an honest look at our military budget, foreign policy objectives, and negative effects these regime change wars are having on our national security and soldiers in the armed forces. is a childish primitive view that doesn't serve what is in the best interest of America.** [Rep. Gabbard is someone who has seen the cost of war up close and personal](https://www.tulsi2020.com/about/tulsi-gabbard-military-service); she cares more about the troops and the national security of this country than the corporatists who are smearing her with implications of treason, or calling her an \"unwitting\" asset of Russia. This smear campaign is a clear outcome of what happens when someone with influence challenges the constant war propaganda that the military industrial complex and other benefactors of the war  machine manage to maintain. \n\nLast May, **the Rolling Stone published an article titled**, ***“[We’ve Hit a New Low in Campaign Hit Pieces](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/taibbi-tulsi-gabbard-bernie-sanders-trump-2020-838156/)”*** with the subheadline reading, “***Recent efforts to sandbag Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard are crude repeats of behaviors that helped elect Trump in 2016***”. The article would open, \n\n>**“Last week, the Daily Beast ran this headline:** ***“Tulsi Gabbard’s Campaign Is Being Boosted by Putin Apologists”***\n\n>**That was followed by the sub headline**: ***“The Hawaii congresswoman is quickly becoming the top candidate for Democrats who think the Russian leader is misunderstood.”*** … \n \n>**This vicious little article might have died a quiet death, except ABC’s George Stephanopoulos regurgitated it in an interview with Gabbard days later. The This Week host put up the Beast headline in a question about whether or not Gabbard was “softer” on Putin than other candidates.**\n*Gabbard responded:* ***‘It’s unfortunate that you’re citing that article, George, because it’s a whole lot of fake news.’***\n \n>**This in turn spurred another round of denunciations, this time in the form of articles finding fault not with the McCarthyite questioning, but with Gabbard’s answer**.*As Politico wrote:* ***‘ ’Fake news’ is a favorite phrase of President Donald Trump…’ ”***\n\nGabbard would comment to the Rolling Stone that, “***Stephanopoulos shamelessly implied that because I oppose going to war with Russia, I’m not a loyal American, but a Putin puppet,***” Gabbard told Rolling Stone. ***\"It just shows what absurd lengths warmongers in the media will go, to try to destroy the reputation of anyone who dares oppose their warmongering.”***  Speaking of destroying reputations of those who oppose Warmongering, *lets not forget*, [John Bolton threatened both the reputation and even kids of Former OPCW director general Bustani](https://theintercept.com/2018/03/29/john-bolton-trump-bush-bustani-kids-opcw/) for not feeding into the beating of the war drums before the Iraq war(If you don't know of that story it is a highly recommended read).\n\nTaibbi of the Rolling stone would go on to write, \n>“A transparent hit piece came out as Gabbard was announcing her run. [NBC reported](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/russia-s-propaganda-machine-discovers-2020-democratic-candidate-tulsi-gabbard-n964261?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma) ‘***the Russian propaganda machine’ is ‘now promoting the presidential aspirations of a controversial Hawaii Democrat.’*** **The article among things was sourced to New Knowledge, a cyber-analysis firm claiming it had caught Russian ‘chatter’ about Gabbard’s ‘usefulness.’** \n\n>**This was after** ***the New York Times*** **did a [piece outing New Knowledge as having faked exactly this kind of activity in an Alabama Senate race](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/us/alabama-senate-roy-jones-russia.html) between Democrat Doug Jones and Republican Roy Moore**. In that incident, **the paper got hold of a memo in which the firm admitted it had** ***'orchestrated an elaborate ‘false flag’ operation that planted the idea that the Moore campaign was amplified on social media by a Russian botnet.’*** ”\n\nMatt Taibii of the Rolling Stone would publish another article on Gabbard following the second democratic debate, where she made waves again, [trending #1 on Google relative to other candidates](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/08/01/tulsi-gabbard-most-searched-candidate-democratic-debate/1887209001/), just [as she did in the first debate](https://activatenow.us/tulsi-gabbard-wins-first-presidential-debate-according-to-google-trends/). Many upon observation of very strange phenomenon, would [allege that Twitter was artificially suppressing Tulsi from trending after the 2nd debate](https://www.rt.com/usa/465587-tulsi-trending-google-twitter/).\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">So Tulsi pretty much doesn&#39;t trend at all on Twitter even though shes the #1 google trend, but now Assad is trending?<br><br>This is election meddling.</p> Winkle, so very tired (@WinkleAbides) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/WinkleAbides/status/1156782203050721282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 1, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\n---\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I&#39;ve been monitoring the trends all night and unlike the last debate Tulsi hasn&#39;t come up even once. Twitter is suppressing her from trending. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TulsiGabbard</a> you need to call this out just like you called out Google. This cannot be tolerated it is censorship!<a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tulsi2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Tulsi2020</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/DemDebate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#DemDebate</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/fgF3dZJeg8\">pic.twitter.com/fgF3dZJeg8</a></p> Currie Dobson (@Ventuckyspaz) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Ventuckyspaz/status/1156755525725388803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 1, 2019</a></blockquote>\n\nThe second article Haibbi wrote for Rolling Stone, titled,“[Who’s afraid of Tulsi Gabbard](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/podcast-tulsi-gabbard-kamala-harris-syria-iraq-870003/)?”, opened by quoting Tulsi - “***It just shows, that launching a smear campaign is the only response to the truth.***” before continuing, \n\n>“*Gabbard, 38, burst into headlines after a July 31 Democratic Party presidential debate, when she went after California Senator [Kamala Harris](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/kamala-harris/)’s record as Attorney General of the State of California.* ***The “smear campaign” refers to the bizarre avalanche of negative press that ensued, as reporters seemed to circle wagons around a Harris, a party favorite.”***\n\nAfter laying some context and describing Tulsi’s knock out on Harris, Taibbi would go on to write,\n>“**Having wounded a presumptive frontrunner backed by nearly $25 million in campaign funds, Gabbard instantly became the subject of a slew of negative leaks, tweets, and press reports**. ***Many of these continued the appalling recent Democratic Party tradition of denouncing anything it doesn’t like as treasonous aid to foreign enemies..”***\n\nTaibbi would then go on to remind us that **Obama’s “star began to rise” in a debate when asked if he would be willing to meet with countries such as Iran, [Syria](https://www.politico.eu/article/why-the-arabs-dont-want-us-in-syria-mideast-conflict-oil-intervention/), Cuba, Venezuela and North Korea**.\n\n>“**Obama [said he would](https://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/25/clinton.obama/)**, that ***‘It is a disgrace that we have not spoken to them.’*** He added: ***‘The notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them — which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of [the Bush] administration — is ridiculous.***’ **He went on to cite, as Gabbard has done, the example of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, who both met with Soviet leaders.**\n*It is true that Hillary Clinton pushed back against Obama’s position in that debate, calling it ‘irresponsible,’ but the moment was a key in endearing Obama to liberal voters who were tired of Bush’s gunboat lunacy.*”\n\nTaibbi would continue tearing the McCarthyistic narrative to shreds through the rest of his [article](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/podcast-tulsi-gabbard-kamala-harris-syria-iraq-870003/).\n\nThen, *a couple months later, Hillary with the help of the journalistic malpractice of the general mainstream media tempted Taibbi to write a third article in defense of Gabbard* titled, ***“[Everyone Is a Russian Asset](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/clinton-gabbard-russian-asset-jill-stein-901593/)”*** subtitled, ***\"America laughed at Hillary Clinton’s remarks about Tulsi Gabbard, but her ideas fit perfectly in the intellectual mainstream”***. This header hinted at why anti-establishment populism is growing so popular, as the general public are becoming aware that the promoted opinions in the media are often misleading and intellectually dishonest. Taibbi would write,\n\n>“ ***‘I’m not making any predictions, but I think they’ve got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate,’*** **Clinton said on a podcast with former Barack Obama aide David Plouffe**. *‘She’s the favorite of the Russians.’*\n\n>Clinton appeared to be talking about Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a combat veteran. She wasn’t done, teeing off on former Green Party candidate Jill Stein:\n*‘[Jill Stein’s] also a Russian asset… Yeah, she’s a Russian asset — I mean, totally. They know they can’t win without a third-party candidate.’*\n\n>She went on to talk about Donald Trump:\n*‘I don’t know what Putin has on him, whether it’s both personal and financial … I assume it is.’*\n***Hillary Clinton is nuts. She’s also not far from the Democratic Party mainstream, which has been pushing the same line for years.***”\n\nBecause Clinton did not learn her lesson with Tulsi gaining momentum after Clinton’s swing, headlines continued to appear like [that published by Newsweek which reads](https://www.newsweek.com/ilikebernie-trends-after-hillary-clinton-says-nobody-likes-bernie-sanders-1483273) “***#ILIKEBERNIE TRENDS AFTER HILLARY CLINTON SAYS 'NOBODY LIKES' BERNIE SANDERS***”. Must be those Russian bots Hillary keeps warning us about.\n\n ***[Gabbard wrote an oped in the The Wall Street Journal as a response to Hillary](https://www.wsj.com/articles/i-can-defeat-trump-and-the-clinton-doctrine-11572389508)’s remarks*** (you can find for free on reddit). **Gabbard’s article was titled**, ***“I can beat Trump, and the Clinton Doctrine”***, with the subtitle “***The US will stop trying to overthrow governments and police the world\"***. She would fire back, \n\n>“**I’m running for president to undo Mrs. Clinton’s failed legacy. From Iraq to Libya to Syria, her record is replete with foreign-policy catastrophes.** ***It’s a primary reason why I resigned as vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 2016 to endorse Bernie Sanders.*** **Mrs. Clinton and the powerful media and political network she built up over decades have never forgiven this slight. The smears have been nonstop ever since.**\n\n>***Hardly a week goes by when I’m not asked a question about how I’m being secretly backed by Russia or other foreign powers—on top of countless other falsehoods intended to destroy my reputation.*** **Those who are indebted to the war machine and the overreaching intelligence agencies, as well as their cheerleaders in the media, are determined to take me down because they know they can’t control me. I’m directly challenging their power.**”\n\nGabbard continued putting the DNC establishment on blast as well as highlighting the fact that the President exercises the most power and responsibility in terms of his or her role as commander-in-chief. ***A president needs cooperation with Congress to pass legislation, but a President does not need to have Congress on their side to stop the war machine from operating as usual.*** They are in total and complete control of the military. Another presidential power that does not require congressional approval is the power of the pardon, which Gabbard has promised to use on Assange and Chelsea manning much to the dismay of the corporate establishment who need secrecy to be able to operate with approval. Gabbard would continue, \n\n>“**This isn’t a petty 'spat' between Mrs. Clinton and me. It’s a serious contrast in views about the choice voters face as they decide which Democratic candidate is best equipped to defeat President Trump.** ***Mrs. Clinton already lost to Mr. Trump once. Why would Democrats think a Hillary 2.0 candidate would result in anything different***?\n**A Gabbard presidency would mean the end of trying to police the world, no more overthrowing governments, an end to the new Cold War and nuclear arms race, and redirecting our resources to urgent needs at home.**\n***That doesn’t mean I’m an isolationist. I will lead with a robust, positive foreign policy based on diplomacy and cooperation rather than confrontation and conflict.***\"\n\n### \"***Those who follow the Bush-Clinton doctrine believe the only way to interact with other nations is by bombing them or starving them with draconian sanctions.***\"\n>\"**The most important responsibility of the president is to serve as commander-in-chief.** *As a Member of Congress for nearly seven years serving on the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, and as a veteran who deployed twice to the Middle East, I’m prepared to do that job from day one*. ***I will immediately begin reversing the damage the Bush-Clinton doctrine has done to America and the world. To focus single-mindedly on this critical task, I’ve decided not to seek another term in the House of Representatives, where I’ve been honored to serve.***\n**Only when we recognize the failings of the past—embodied by Mrs. Clinton and her minions in the media—can we move forward to a future of peace, dignity, transparency and aloha.**\"\n\nTrump would defend Gabbard after Hillary’s attack, as Hillary brought his name up right after smearing Tulsi, most likely to implant the idea of association in the listener’s mind. Trump would be quoted saying “Hillary’s gone crazy”, which caused the smearers to just dig their heels in the sand and point to say “see, Trump, who we’ve been screaming is connected to Russia for years, just defended Gabbard, so she too *must* be Russia connected.” It's madness, really.\n\n[Pike for Libertarian Investments](https://libertarianinvestments.com/2019/01/19/would-tulsi-gabbard-be-a-good-president/) suggested weeks after Tulsi’s appearance on Van Jones that she would receive the “Donald Trump treatment” if she gained traction, and that is almost exactly what would come to happen.\n \n> *\"The establishment has already taken their digs at Gabbard.  I suspect that the establishment media will try to ignore her as much as possible.  They will give her the Ron Paul treatment to a certain extent.  If she starts to gain significant support, then she is going to start to experience the Donald Trump treatment by the media.”*\n\n \n At least Trump is an Epstein-connected Billionaire, so him being bought out by a foreign country is entirely plausible..but accusing a combat veteran who speaks against unnecessary war from the heart is just disgraceful. Hillary had said “*I don’t know what Putin has on him, whether it’s both personal and financial..*” …while impeachment was a giant failure whether democrats want to recognize it or not, there are extensive ties between Epstein and the Mossad(Isreali intelligence service), and [Trump was known to associate with Epstein](https://www.thedailybeast.com/jeffrey-epstein-unearthed-nbc-footage-appears-to-show-trump-and-epstein-rating-womens-looks-at-1992-party), even throwing a party who’s guest list exclusively included Trump, Epstein, and 28 “girls”, according to an article published by the New York Times -“**[Jeffrey Epstein Was a ‘Terrific Guy,’ Donald Trump Once Said. Now He’s ‘Not a Fan.’](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/us/politics/trump-epstein.html)**” The Daily beast would also go on to note that, “***The Times report also claims Epstein has told people since the election that he was the one who introduced the president to his third wife, first lady Melania Trump. The White House didn’t respond to the newspaper’s request for comment.***”\n\n**Whitney Webb of Mint Press [would write a series on the connections between these figures](https://www.mintpressnews.com/shocking-origins-jeffrey-epstein-blackmail-roy-cohn/260621/)**, other individuals and institutions such as the CIA, ***making a [strong case for Epstein being the front for a Mossad-blackmail operation on high profile politicians and other influential figures in America.](https://www.mintpressnews.com/blackmail-jeffrey-epstein-trump-mentor-reagan-era/260760/)***\n“As [MintPress reported](https://www.mintpressnews.com/shocking-origins-jeffrey-epstein-blackmail-roy-cohn/260621/) … Epstein was able to run this sordid operation for so long precisely because his was only the latest incarnation of a much older, more extensive operation that began in the 1950s and perhaps even earlier. \n**Starting first with mob-linked liquor baron Lewis Rosenstiel and later with Roy Cohn, Rosenstiel’s protege and future mentor to Donald Trump, Epstein’s is just one of the many sexual blackmail operations involving children that are all tied to the same network, which includes elements of organized crime, powerful Washington politicians, lobbyists and ‘fixers,’ and clear links to intelligence as well as the FBI.**”\n\nWebb also published a piece [tying an Isreali-linked spyware-tech firm to the Trump administration](https://www.mintpressnews.com/cybereason-investors-offer-israeli-spy-classified-intelligence/264095/). Not only that but Webb would go on to write another piece linking linking another Isreali tech company and even Google to the Epstein Network, also documenting association between [Epstein, the Mossad, and big tech executives](https://www.mintpressnews.com/cia-israel-mossad-jeffrey-epstein-orwellian-nightmare/261692/).\n\n>“**Not long after Epstein’s arrest, and his relationships and finances came under scrutiny, it was revealed that the Israeli company Carbyne911 had received substantial funding from Jeffrey Epstein as well as Epstein’s close associate and former Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Barak**, ***and Silicon Valley venture capitalist and prominent Trump backer Peter Thiel.***\n> ***\"Carbyne911, or simply Carbyne***, *develops call-handling and identification capabilities for emergency response services in countries around the world, including the United States, where it has already been implemented in several U.S. counties and* ***has partnered with major U.S. tech companies like Google.*** *It specifically markets its product as a way of mitigating mass shootings in the United States without having to change existing U.S. gun laws\" ...\n\n>\"Though it is unknown exactly which Silicon Valley figures were most connected to Epstein and which tech executives were potentially being blackmailed by Epstein, **it is known that Epstein associated with several prominent tech executives, including Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.**\n \n***Last year, Epstein claimed to be advising Tesla and Elon Musk, who had been previously photographed with Epstein’s alleged madam Ghislaine Maxwell. A few years ago, Epstein also attended a dinner hosted by LinkedIn’s Reid Hoffman, where Musk had allegedly introduced Epstein to Mark Zuckerberg. Google’s Sergey Brin is known to have attended a dinner hosted by Epstein at his New York residence where Donald Trump was also in attendance.***”\n\nhttps://www.mintpressnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/5d5302c6cd97841bc207b2e4.png\n\nWebb would describe how **Paypal founder and Facebook board member, [Peter Thiel, who has long term associated with Musk and Zuckerberg](https://www.businessinsider.com/peter-thiel-facebook-trump-biography-2018-2#soon-after-joining-facebooks-board-thiel-started-his-vc-firm-founders-fund-which-hes-best-known-for-today-12), was not just a** ***co-founder of Carbyne alongside Epstein and his associates***, but also, \n>“***still owns a controlling stake in the company Palantir, which was [initially funded](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/williamalden/palantirs-relationship-with-americas-spies) with a $2 million investment from the CIA’s venture capital fund In-Q-Tel and quickly thereafter became a contractor for the CIA.***\n**After the success of its contract with the CIA, [Palantir became a contractor](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/williamalden/palantirs-relationship-with-americas-spies) for a variety of federal agencies, including the FBI, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the National Security Agency (NSA), the Department of Homeland Security(DHS) and the military’s Special Operations Command, among others.** Last year, it [won a contract](https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tn-palantir-contract-20180309-story.html) to create a new battlefield intelligence system for the U.S. Army. Palantir is also in demand for its ‘pre-crime technology,’ which [has been used](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/30/palantir-peter-thiel-cia-data-crime-police) by several U.S. police departments. According to [the Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/30/palantir-peter-thiel-cia-data-crime-police), ‘Palantir tracks everyone from potential terrorist suspects to corporate fraudsters, child traffickers and what they refer to as ‘subversives’… it is all done using prediction.’ ”\n\n**This was just a small sample of Webb’s masterpiece, which would point to quite an unsettling reality.** ***Perhaps Hillary should have been asking what Israel has on Trump, not Russia***. *But then again*…the Clintons have much more documented connections to Epstein - Which begs the question...what does Israel have on the Clintons? ***Perhaps here is a reason the “progressive” mainstream media, such as CNN, attacks Tulsi for meeting with Assad but does not attack Trump for meeting Nitenyahu nor for cosponsoring “Trump Heights” establishment in the illegally-occupied Golan Heights***..not even for declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel - sanctioning the continued human rights violations of large-scale demolitions of entire Palestinean neighborhoods in Palestinean-controlled East Jerusalem. \n###  ***No, forget all that. The real threat to national security is Russia promoting candidates with an anti-war platform.***\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Trump: &quot;We have to get the people of our country, of this country, to love Israel more, I have to tell you that. We have to do it. We have to get them to love Israel more. Because you have people that are Jewish people that are great people -- they don&#39;t love Israel enough.&quot; <a href=\"https://t.co/JkaldO8ljB\">pic.twitter.com/JkaldO8ljB</a></p> °• Ronda (@40_Ronda) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/40_Ronda/status/1203597437941768192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 8, 2019</a></blockquote>\n\nRaibbi wrote that, \n“Everyone is foreign scum these days. **Democrats spent three years trying to prove Donald Trump [is a Russian pawn](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-trump-russia-collusion-hall-of-shame/2019/03/28/306b5168-5173-11e9-a3f7-78b7525a8d5f_story.html). Mitch McConnell is '[Moscow Mitch](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/opinion/mitch-mcconnell-election-security.html).' Third party candidates are a Russian plot. The Bernie Sanders movement is not just a wasteland of racist and misogynist 'Bros,' but** — ***according to intelligence agencies and mainstream pundits alike*** — **the beneficiary of an ambitious Russian plot to “[stoke the divide](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/inside-the-russian-effort-to-target-sanders-supporters--and-help-elect-trump/2019/04/11/741d7308-5576-11e9-8ef3-fbd41a2ce4d5_story.html)” within the Democratic Party. The Joe Rogan independents attracted to the mild antiwar message of Tulsi Gabbard are likewise traitors and dupes for the Kremlin.**\n*If you’re keeping score, that’s pretty much the whole spectrum of American political thought, excepting MSNBC Democrats*. ***What a coincidence***!”\n\nIt is apparent that anyone who is anti-war or anti-establishment is branded a Russian asset. If you don't fall in line with the CIA's corporate agenda, you are a Russian asset. Like Assange, or Tulsi,if you do your job as a journalist or legislator instead of blending in with the rest of the Operation Mockingbird and corporate assets, you are a Russian asset, and your reputation will be attacked. Luckily for Tulsi, she doesn't have any kids that Bolton or his neocon gang can threaten.\n\n---\n\n## Smear: Tulsi is not an ally to the LGTBQ community\n## Reality: CNN published an article the very next day after her Van Jones appearance titled, “Tulsi Gabbard once touted working for anti-gay group that backed conversion therapy” - focusing on her misguided beliefs in her early career.\n\n To CNN’s credit, after extensively covering her previous stances, they had at least concluded the article by briefly acknowledging her policy-shift and [strong pro-lbtq voting record](https://www.tulsigabbard.org/tulsi-gabbard-on-lgbtq) and platform:\n>“**Since joining Congress in 2013, Gabbard has supported efforts to promote LGBT equality, including co-sponsoring pro-LGBT legislation like The Equality Act, a bill to amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to protect LGBT individuals.**\n***‘I grew up in a very kind of conservative household. A multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-faith home,’*** *[Gabbard said in New Hampshire](https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4764183/tulsi-gabbard-lgbtq-record) in December, speaking to her shift.* ***‘Diverse in our makeup and diverse in our views. And I held views growing up that I no longer hold.’***\nCiting her time deployed overseas, Gabbard said she saw ‘*the destructive effect of having governments who act as moral arbiters for their people.’* ”\n\nJimmy Dore released an astounding video titled, “[Tulsi Gabbard Smears Debunked](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWfwqxwSUF8&feature=youtu.be&a=),” in which Dore covers the LGBTQ smear during the last stretch of the video. During that segment, he lists multiple pieces of legislation she had either voted for, or better yet, co-sponsored. They read as follows:\n\n- **Signed the Supreme Court Amicus on Marriage Equality**, to **supporting the repeal of the DOMA in 2013** (*The Defense of Marriage Act*).\n- **Co-sponsored the Equality Act** which amends the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include, “Sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of descrimination or segregation in places of public accommodation,”.\n- **Co-sponsored fair housing and credit legislation**, advocated for an end to the bullying of LGBTQ children in schools.\n- **Co-sponsored the Equality for All Resolution, the Respect for Marriage Act, the Healthy Families Act, and the Paycheck Fairness Act.**\n\nOn top of that, Dore then goes on to point out that **the Human Rights Campaign**, *an LGBTQ organization which has acquired more than 3 million supporters world wide*, **gives Tulsi a 100% score based on her voting history in congress related to LGBTQ rights**(such as the above legislation) - all of which you can read for yourself in their latest [congressional scoresheet](http://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/115thCongressionalScorecard-Report.pdf). The Human Rights Campaign’s [mission statement on their website](https://www.hrc.org/hrc-story/mission-statement) opens with, “*The Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation together serve as America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBTQ equality*.”\n\nhttps://i.pinimg.com/236x/2c/60/49/2c6049711705555cde61c2f9994ff067--tulsi-gabbard-for-president.jpg\n\nAs Jimmy Dore said, “***Obviously those people don’t have a problem with her. You know who does? Hillary Voters...and uh some people who don’t want[you] to vote for her.***” He then passes the mic to Ron Placone who says, “*By the way,* ***Tulsi evolved on gay marriage before Hillary Clinton***. ... *yeah and shes also apologized for her views past views, you know?*” before going on to give an anecdote - \n\n>“*Yeah it's one of those things, I was having a conversation with a friend of mine … and Tulsi Gabbard came up and he was like* ‘ah you know her homophobic past’ *and I was just like*, ***‘wait a second, you were a die-hard republican in high school, right, and now your progressive.’.***. *and he’s like* ***‘yeah’*** *and I was like*, ‘***you’re allowed to change but she’s not? She was younger, she grew up in a more conservative background that shaped her views, then she had more life experience, she met more people, and she changed and evolved. Why are you allowed to change, and she's not?***”. \n\nJimmy goes on to ask, “*she was in a don’t ask-don’t tell military, right*?” to ***highlight the fact that she was brought up in an environment that was homophobic, an environment that extends far beyond her home. Gabbard’s father was a prominent and outspoken anti gay-rights activist***, and Tulsi had inhereted this perspective from her father being raised by him. **I remember hearing somewhere(I believe Caitlin Johnstone) that one of the greatest challenges and responsibilities adults have as human beings is expanding beyond the perspectives conditioned into us by our parents**, part of the process of breaking through societal conditioning. And this is not easy, and it most certainly does not happen all-at-once overnight. Real progress never does. ***For some odd reason, people seem to be willing to accept this when it comes to Biden’s evolution on the issue, or Hillary and Obama’s...but many who could forgive the aforementioned neoliberals are unwilling to accept Tulsi’s apologies - not [the one in 2012](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJOX4yqqwQE), nor [her 4 minute long apology](https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1085959308112809986) in response to this recent smear campaign.***\n\nAfter Tulsi’s father saw the most recent apology, [Mr.Gabbard told the Washington Examiner](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/tulsi-gabbards-father-i-never-realized-how-much-trauma-i-put-her-through) that,\n>“*I’d always known that as a child, Tulsi had been deeply affected by the conflict between myself and the gay community. But after seeing her video the other day, what she said broke my heart. I never realized how much trauma I put her through because of my overly aggressive advocacy for traditional marriage,*’ he said in an email. ‘*We continue to have a very close relationship, and do not allow our differences on this issue to interfere with that.’*” going on to say that, “***I have to admit that she has made me more empathetic and understanding of the difficulties that gays face in society.***”\n\nOf course, he should have really been apologizing for the trauma that his organzation inflicted on the LGBTQ community, but ***the important thing to recognize is that Tulsi is not her past-self, and she is not her father.*** **While as an impressionable young woman she might have been raised into a traditional mindset on the issue by her father,** ***today, she is the one influencing her father into a more progressive mindset, and has been on the forefront of LGTBQ rights her entire congressional career*** - a result of her perspective shift on LGBTQ rights that occured in 2004.\n\nThe tweets below are all from members of the LGBTQ community, the first one being from one of the most respected journalists in the profession, partially for his integrity - a reason cited by Snowden for selecting Greenwald to trust for the exclusive on his leaks that would take the world by storm and give the Obama administration some serious headaches. The latter are regular twitter users, most of whom I follow and interact with relatively frequently. Pay attention to the twitter handles.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Do past anti-gay statements and positions permanently besmirch a person&#39;s character, or does evolving and changing and repudiating those past positions absolve them of their sins? It&#39;d be good if we had a consistent standard on this question.</p> Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1084829843198480384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 14, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithTulsi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#StandWithTulsi</a> on her LGBT stance. Yes we know she used to believe in anti LGBT practices but she learned new information and grew as a person and became a staunch defender. Isn’t that what we all strive for as people to learn and grow? <a href=\"https://t.co/qGshdqBRG8\">https://t.co/qGshdqBRG8</a></p> Ms Alicia Jean 🌺☮️🏄‍♀️⛵️💡 (@TransGirlAlicia) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TransGirlAlicia/status/1207826480945913858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 20, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Well, she does care about my gay ass because her voting record during her time in Congress has been 100% pro-LGBT.<br><br>The only candidates with decent healthcare plans are Bernie and Tulsi, and sex work &amp; marijuana legalization greatly benefit the LGBT &amp; black community respectively</p> Josh 🌺🧢 (@Bottoms4Tulsi) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Bottoms4Tulsi/status/1196923781014532096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 19, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">it reminds me of tulsi and her homophobic past. she&#39;s admitted to it, she&#39;s changed, and she&#39;s done all she can since to fight for lgbt+ rights. but because she was forthcoming about her past, as she should be, ppl desperate to cancel her will forever label her a homophobe</p> 🌺🧢 lesbians for tulsi 🧢🌺 (@lesbians4tulsi) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/lesbians4tulsi/status/1276673395544010753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 27, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nThe hypocrisy is clear. **Most of the political pundits attacking Tulsi for her decade-old beliefs regarding LGTBQ issues did not attack Clinton in 2016(or 2008) for her past views, despite far less time having elapsed since Clinton’s own policy transition at that point in time,** ***many of them were even cheering for Clinton in 2016 - but then attack Tulsi years later, who had changed her views before Clinton***. Dore drives that point home by saying, “*And lets remember, everyone’s hero, the black santa claus, Obama, was against gay marraige until, when, about 5 minutes ago? When, when did he come around?*”  \n“*Its been a few hours*” - Placone says, making the room chuckle.\n*“When did he finally come around to that, right? Because he ran on against, he wasnt for gay marriage when he ran thats for sure, right? Okay.”*\n\n **When Obama became President, he was against gay marriage while at that same point in time, Tulsi had already done her 180 degrees turnaround- waiting for Obama, Hillary and Biden to catch up**. ***The same year Tulsi abandoned her past beliefs, 2004, Clinton would be [stating](https://gawker.com/remember-when-hillary-clinton-was-against-gay-marriage-1714147439) as a senator that*** *‘I believe marriage is not just a bond but a sacred bond between a man and a woman.”* ***The point of this is not to say that Clinton should be judged for her decade and a half old views, but to say that Tulsi should be spared from that same judgement and not held to a higher standard.***  \n\n**[Joe Biden had not evolved on the issue until 2012](https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/05/08/bidens-early-support-for-same-sex-marriage-still-remembered-for-impact/), 8 years after Tulsi had undergone her transition on the issue**...  ***Why are we expected to accept the policy shifts of these neoliberal figures as authentic, but not Tulsi’s?*** Even without the comparisons, is it fair to judge a person based on who they were over 15 years ago on a certain issue that they were highly influenced by their parents on for the entirety of their life? Even if they changed their views 15 years ago and have apologized multiple times since then? Is that a valid angle of attack to assault one’s character? \n\n### Who should be ashamed for who they are today? Tulsi? Or those who assault her character on false, flawed premises that they don't equally apply to the candidates they support?",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"tulsi\",\"gabbard\",\"tulsigabbard\",\"homophobic\",\"smear\",\"campaign\",\"russia\",\"asset\"],\"users\":[\"winkleabides\",\"ventuckyspaz\",\"ggreenwald\",\"transgirlalicia\",\"bottoms4tulsi\",\"lesbians4tulsi\"],\"image\":[\"https://www.mintpressnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/5d5302c6cd97841bc207b2e4.png\",\"https://i.pinimg.com/236x/2c/60/49/2c6049711705555cde61c2f9994ff067--tulsi-gabbard-for-president.jpg\"],\"links\":[\"https://www.tulsi2020.com/about/tulsi-gabbard-military-service\",\"https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/taibbi-tulsi-gabbard-bernie-sanders-trump-2020-838156/\",\"https://theintercept.com/2018/03/29/john-bolton-trump-bush-bustani-kids-opcw/\",\"https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/russia-s-propaganda-machine-discovers-2020-democratic-candidate-tulsi-gabbard-n964261?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma\",\"https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/us/alabama-senate-roy-jones-russia.html\",\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/08/01/tulsi-gabbard-most-searched-candidate-democratic-debate/1887209001/\",\"https://activatenow.us/tulsi-gabbard-wins-first-presidential-debate-according-to-google-trends/\",\"https://www.rt.com/usa/465587-tulsi-trending-google-twitter/\",\"https://twitter.com/WinkleAbides/status/1156782203050721282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tulsi2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/DemDebate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/fgF3dZJeg8\",\"https://twitter.com/Ventuckyspaz/status/1156755525725388803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/podcast-tulsi-gabbard-kamala-harris-syria-iraq-870003/\",\"https://www.rollingstone.com/t/kamala-harris/\",\"https://www.politico.eu/article/why-the-arabs-dont-want-us-in-syria-mideast-conflict-oil-intervention/\",\"https://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/25/clinton.obama/\",\"https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/clinton-gabbard-russian-asset-jill-stein-901593/\",\"https://www.newsweek.com/ilikebernie-trends-after-hillary-clinton-says-nobody-likes-bernie-sanders-1483273\",\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/i-can-defeat-trump-and-the-clinton-doctrine-11572389508\",\"https://libertarianinvestments.com/2019/01/19/would-tulsi-gabbard-be-a-good-president/\",\"https://www.thedailybeast.com/jeffrey-epstein-unearthed-nbc-footage-appears-to-show-trump-and-epstein-rating-womens-looks-at-1992-party\",\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/us/politics/trump-epstein.html\",\"https://www.mintpressnews.com/shocking-origins-jeffrey-epstein-blackmail-roy-cohn/260621/\",\"https://www.mintpressnews.com/blackmail-jeffrey-epstein-trump-mentor-reagan-era/260760/\",\"https://www.mintpressnews.com/cybereason-investors-offer-israeli-spy-classified-intelligence/264095/\",\"https://www.mintpressnews.com/cia-israel-mossad-jeffrey-epstein-orwellian-nightmare/261692/\",\"https://www.businessinsider.com/peter-thiel-facebook-trump-biography-2018-2#soon-after-joining-facebooks-board-thiel-started-his-vc-firm-founders-fund-which-hes-best-known-for-today-12\",\"https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/williamalden/palantirs-relationship-with-americas-spies\",\"https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tn-palantir-contract-20180309-story.html\",\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/30/palantir-peter-thiel-cia-data-crime-police\",\"https://t.co/JkaldO8ljB\",\"https://twitter.com/40_Ronda/status/1203597437941768192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-trump-russia-collusion-hall-of-shame/2019/03/28/306b5168-5173-11e9-a3f7-78b7525a8d5f_story.html\",\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/opinion/mitch-mcconnell-election-security.html\",\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/inside-the-russian-effort-to-target-sanders-supporters--and-help-elect-trump/2019/04/11/741d7308-5576-11e9-8ef3-fbd41a2ce4d5_story.html\",\"https://www.tulsigabbard.org/tulsi-gabbard-on-lgbtq\",\"https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4764183/tulsi-gabbard-lgbtq-record\",\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWfwqxwSUF8&feature=youtu.be&a=\",\"http://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/115thCongressionalScorecard-Report.pdf\",\"https://www.hrc.org/hrc-story/mission-statement\",\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJOX4yqqwQE\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1085959308112809986\",\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/tulsi-gabbards-father-i-never-realized-how-much-trauma-i-put-her-through\",\"https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1084829843198480384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithTulsi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/qGshdqBRG8\",\"https://twitter.com/TransGirlAlicia/status/1207826480945913858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/Bottoms4Tulsi/status/1196923781014532096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/lesbians4tulsi/status/1276673395544010753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://gawker.com/remember-when-hillary-clinton-was-against-gay-marriage-1714147439\",\"https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/05/08/bidens-early-support-for-same-sex-marriage-still-remembered-for-impact/\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "d8c969e7396ef28ebde1c0c2c2ea3d43ad800b1a",
  "block": 44715487,
  "trx_in_block": 2,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-07-01T02:48:09",
  "op": [
    "custom_json",
    {
      "required_auths": [],
      "required_posting_auths": [
        "mitchellmcguire"
      ],
      "id": "follow",
      "json": "[\"follow\",{\"follower\":\"mitchellmcguire\",\"following\":\"yehey\",\"what\":[\"blog\"]}]"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "b95bcf39998b7235b3651d48670b91febc337de0",
  "block": 44692064,
  "trx_in_block": 1,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-06-30T07:05:15",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "yehey",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-was-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-3",
      "weight": 1000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "59e7e75510ee0824eccecd07a01ff2b99eda7446",
  "block": 44691453,
  "trx_in_block": 2,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-06-30T06:34:27",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "gabbard",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-was-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-3",
      "title": "How and Why Tulsi Gabbard Was Held to a Higher Standard (Part 3)",
      "body": "@@ -5172,20 +5172,19 @@\n , %5BModi \n-with\n+met\n  with Jo\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"tulsi\",\"modi\",\"islamophobia\",\"cult\",\"biden\",\"islam\",\"election\",\"irony\"],\"users\":[\"saffronwatch\",\"exposehindutva\",\"friedrichpieter\",\"cheese12987\",\"tulsigabbard\"],\"image\":[\"https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*g9qVRFbkK2oL_8uxstSuTQ.jpeg\"],\"links\":[\"https://theintercept.com/2019/01/05/tulsi-gabbard-2020-hindu-nationalist-modi/\",\"https://medium.com/@tjmcnulty_79436/debunking-pieter-friedrichs-tulsi-narrative-1085649b2810\",\"https://theintercept.com/2019/05/09/watch-interview-with-democratic-congresswoman-and-2020-presidential-candidate-tulsi-gabbard/\",\"https://jacobinmag.com/2019/11/joe-biden-narendra-modi-tulsi-gabbard-amit-jani-bjp\",\"https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/09/232342.htm\",\"https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/our-goal-is-to-become-india-best-friend-says-us-vice-president-joe-biden/story/224002.html\",\"https://time.com/3823155/narendra-modi-2015-time-100/\",\"https://girlygrrrl.com/developing-story-khalistani-ops/\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiGabbard?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RSS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tulsi2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiGottaGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/rssfunded?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/rsscollaborator?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/foreigninterference?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/indiagate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chowkidar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/ashoswai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/India_Resists?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/RSSorg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/g8EXA8un8e\",\"https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1112227368918093824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1112372706366742533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1168190950046351361\",\"https://www.hafsite.org/hindu-amerrican-foundation-writes-caravan-magazine-article-targeting-hindu-american-political-donors\",\"https://medium.com/@Harihar/rep-tulsi-gabbard-on-islam-vs-islamism-c87b1ceefb1\",\"https://t.co/LMdqPwRvaf\",\"https://twitter.com/Cheese12987/status/1233085399754399744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/60MDtszQHf\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1235633239936638983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-resolution/569/cosponsors\",\"https://medium.com/@TulsiGabbard/transcript-tulsis-speech-at-the-reason-rally-in-washington-d-c-this-month-85b1f2d577ea\",\"https://www.thoughtco.com/pluralism-definition-4692539\",\"https://youtu.be/EZTut3CgFjc?t=3m15s\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/806440310616125440\",\"https://girlygrrrl.com/the-truth-about-tulsi-gabbards-cult/\",\"https://medium.com/@NouaDoukai/meanwhile-in-hawaii-a699970469bd\",\"https://archive.fo/dYeID\",\"https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/68603231/\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "f28f5208392c3cf8ec75358c8da812810900c46c",
  "block": 44691270,
  "trx_in_block": 2,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-06-30T06:25:09",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "gabbard",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-was-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-3",
      "title": "How and Why Tulsi Gabbard Was Held to a Higher Standard (Part 3)",
      "body": "@@ -879,17 +879,17 @@\n sten to \n-(\n+%5B\n Tulsi re\n@@ -916,10 +916,10 @@\n wald\n-)%5B\n+%5D(\n http\n@@ -1042,17 +1042,17 @@\n gabbard/\n-%5D\n+)\n **, *cof\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"tulsi\",\"modi\",\"islamophobia\",\"cult\",\"biden\",\"islam\",\"election\",\"irony\"],\"users\":[\"saffronwatch\",\"exposehindutva\",\"friedrichpieter\",\"cheese12987\",\"tulsigabbard\"],\"image\":[\"https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*g9qVRFbkK2oL_8uxstSuTQ.jpeg\"],\"links\":[\"https://theintercept.com/2019/01/05/tulsi-gabbard-2020-hindu-nationalist-modi/\",\"https://medium.com/@tjmcnulty_79436/debunking-pieter-friedrichs-tulsi-narrative-1085649b2810\",\"https://theintercept.com/2019/05/09/watch-interview-with-democratic-congresswoman-and-2020-presidential-candidate-tulsi-gabbard/\",\"https://jacobinmag.com/2019/11/joe-biden-narendra-modi-tulsi-gabbard-amit-jani-bjp\",\"https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/09/232342.htm\",\"https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/our-goal-is-to-become-india-best-friend-says-us-vice-president-joe-biden/story/224002.html\",\"https://time.com/3823155/narendra-modi-2015-time-100/\",\"https://girlygrrrl.com/developing-story-khalistani-ops/\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiGabbard?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RSS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tulsi2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiGottaGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/rssfunded?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/rsscollaborator?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/foreigninterference?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/indiagate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chowkidar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/ashoswai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/India_Resists?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/RSSorg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/g8EXA8un8e\",\"https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1112227368918093824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1112372706366742533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1168190950046351361\",\"https://www.hafsite.org/hindu-amerrican-foundation-writes-caravan-magazine-article-targeting-hindu-american-political-donors\",\"https://medium.com/@Harihar/rep-tulsi-gabbard-on-islam-vs-islamism-c87b1ceefb1\",\"https://t.co/LMdqPwRvaf\",\"https://twitter.com/Cheese12987/status/1233085399754399744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/60MDtszQHf\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1235633239936638983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-resolution/569/cosponsors\",\"https://medium.com/@TulsiGabbard/transcript-tulsis-speech-at-the-reason-rally-in-washington-d-c-this-month-85b1f2d577ea\",\"https://www.thoughtco.com/pluralism-definition-4692539\",\"https://youtu.be/EZTut3CgFjc?t=3m15s\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/806440310616125440\",\"https://girlygrrrl.com/the-truth-about-tulsi-gabbards-cult/\",\"https://medium.com/@NouaDoukai/meanwhile-in-hawaii-a699970469bd\",\"https://archive.fo/dYeID\",\"https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/68603231/\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "627bdb7a76042bec73966bf39ae6c2704d3b3060",
  "block": 44691170,
  "trx_in_block": 0,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-06-30T06:20:03",
  "op": [
    "transfer",
    {
      "from": "executive-board",
      "to": "mitchellmcguire",
      "amount": "0.001 STEEM",
      "memo": "❗ Hello mitchellmcguire, great that you are using the STEEM blockchain. The Executive Board invites you to visit https://discord.gg/KyBbmhh where you will get some insider infos on how you will earn the most coins. It's easy, just follow the instructions. Warm regards, The Executive Board."
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "52cd878691be1b9c9f327b7110fdbd443a9b9ad3",
  "block": 44691164,
  "trx_in_block": 4,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-06-30T06:19:45",
  "op": [
    "transfer",
    {
      "from": "exnihilo.witness",
      "to": "mitchellmcguire",
      "amount": "0.001 STEEM",
      "memo": "By casting your witness vote on @exnihilo.witness you will passively earn and be rewarded just for voting. More information : https://steemit.com/@exnihilo.witness"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "7a3e6a2de02607b11c1bf6da9dd60bea3be98b62",
  "block": 44691155,
  "trx_in_block": 6,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-06-30T06:19:18",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "gabbard",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-was-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-3",
      "title": "How and Why Tulsi Gabbard Was Held to a Higher Standard (Part 3)",
      "body": "@@ -60,16 +60,55 @@\n Part 3)%0A\n+## Modi, Islamophobia, and Cult Smears%0A\n --- %0A%0A##\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"tulsi\",\"modi\",\"islamophobia\",\"cult\",\"biden\",\"islam\",\"election\",\"irony\"],\"users\":[\"saffronwatch\",\"exposehindutva\",\"friedrichpieter\",\"cheese12987\",\"tulsigabbard\"],\"image\":[\"https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*g9qVRFbkK2oL_8uxstSuTQ.jpeg\"],\"links\":[\"https://theintercept.com/2019/01/05/tulsi-gabbard-2020-hindu-nationalist-modi/\",\"https://medium.com/@tjmcnulty_79436/debunking-pieter-friedrichs-tulsi-narrative-1085649b2810\",\"https://theintercept.com/2019/05/09/watch-interview-with-democratic-congresswoman-and-2020-presidential-candidate-tulsi-gabbard/\",\"https://jacobinmag.com/2019/11/joe-biden-narendra-modi-tulsi-gabbard-amit-jani-bjp\",\"https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/09/232342.htm\",\"https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/our-goal-is-to-become-india-best-friend-says-us-vice-president-joe-biden/story/224002.html\",\"https://time.com/3823155/narendra-modi-2015-time-100/\",\"https://girlygrrrl.com/developing-story-khalistani-ops/\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiGabbard?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RSS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tulsi2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiGottaGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/rssfunded?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/rsscollaborator?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/foreigninterference?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/indiagate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chowkidar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/ashoswai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/India_Resists?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/RSSorg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/g8EXA8un8e\",\"https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1112227368918093824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1112372706366742533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1168190950046351361\",\"https://www.hafsite.org/hindu-amerrican-foundation-writes-caravan-magazine-article-targeting-hindu-american-political-donors\",\"https://medium.com/@Harihar/rep-tulsi-gabbard-on-islam-vs-islamism-c87b1ceefb1\",\"https://t.co/LMdqPwRvaf\",\"https://twitter.com/Cheese12987/status/1233085399754399744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/60MDtszQHf\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1235633239936638983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-resolution/569/cosponsors\",\"https://medium.com/@TulsiGabbard/transcript-tulsis-speech-at-the-reason-rally-in-washington-d-c-this-month-85b1f2d577ea\",\"https://www.thoughtco.com/pluralism-definition-4692539\",\"https://youtu.be/EZTut3CgFjc?t=3m15s\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/806440310616125440\",\"https://girlygrrrl.com/the-truth-about-tulsi-gabbards-cult/\",\"https://medium.com/@NouaDoukai/meanwhile-in-hawaii-a699970469bd\",\"https://archive.fo/dYeID\",\"https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/68603231/\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "fbe8bd9c723e9c928b8c767b28c2b3a3971a8e7c",
  "block": 44691140,
  "trx_in_block": 7,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-06-30T06:18:33",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "gabbard",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-was-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-3",
      "title": "How and Why Tulsi Gabbard Was Held to a Higher Standard (Part 3)",
      "body": "# How and Why Tulsi Gabbard Was Held to a Higher Standard (Part 3)\n--- \n\n## Smear: Tulsi is associated with Hindu nationalists and “supports Modi”\n## Reality: 5 days before Tulsi announced her intention to run in her appearance with Van Jones, the Intercept published an article titled, “*[TULSI GABBARD IS A RISING PROGRESSIVE STAR, DESPITE HER SUPPORT FOR HINDU NATIONALISTS](https://theintercept.com/2019/01/05/tulsi-gabbard-2020-hindu-nationalist-modi/)*”. \n\n   The article uses guilt by association and an onslaught of loose, and some outright meaningless or [moot connections that depend on Hinduphobia](https://medium.com/@tjmcnulty_79436/debunking-pieter-friedrichs-tulsi-narrative-1085649b2810), along with falsely equating Hindu association with hindu nationalism at certain points.\n\n**Lets go straight to the horses mouth and listen to (Tulsi respond to Glenn Greenwald)[https://theintercept.com/2019/05/09/watch-interview-with-democratic-congresswoman-and-2020-presidential-candidate-tulsi-gabbard/]**, *cofounder of the Intercept, the outlet that published the aforementioned hit piece on Tulsi*, months after the hit piece was published. Glenn Greenwald prompted, \n>“**a 2016 interview with Quartz, for example, you said after describing the benefits of the United States and India as growing friendship, you said** ‘***Modi impressed me as a person who cares deeply about these issues and as a leader whose example and dedication to the people he serves should be an inspiration to elected officials everywhere.***’ *That seems to be pretty strong praise for Modi as a leader as opposed to simply saying we should try and get along well with India. Do you believe — you said earlier that you have a problem with Muslim governments that are exclusionary or discriminatory or who persecute minorities —*\n***Do you believe the government of India persecutes Muslims and other religious minorities in India***?” \n\nto which she responded,\n\n> “*I would have, first of all, on that quote, I'd have to go back and look at the context of the conversation to comment on that specifically*..\n***There are things that are happening within the Indian government that I disagree with. I don't pretend to support or approve of or endorse all the practices of the ruling party in India.*** *As we look at different governments around the world again I think my approach is serving what is in the best interest for the American people. Being willing to sit with others, whether they be friends or adversaries or potential adversaries, always keeping at the forefront who I work for and who I serve.*”\n\nGlenn Greenwald responded -\n> “*Right, and I’ve heard you say before, and* ***I think there is an element of truth to it, that your ability to say things about the Indian government that non-hindus say gets more attention, and its a form of religious bigotry - which I do agree with.***”\n\nGabbard interjects -“***It is.***”-\n\n>“*At the same time, I’m interested in understanding a little bit better what your view of the government of India is, because you have spoken a lot about it and you’ve met with the prime minister and that quote that I read, and theres others like it, seem to suggest you view him as a positive leader. So I just wanted to ask you:*\n>>*In 2018, an Indian journalist Rana Ayyub wrote in The Guardian under the title*, ‘***Mobs are killing Muslims in India. Why is no one stopping them***?’ …\n*And then Human Rights Report in 2018 has a long list of human rights abuses that it says have been perpetrated by the Modi government, primarily against the Muslim minority, so my question to you is*: ***Do you agree that that's happening, or dispute that It’s happening, or do you admire Modi despite all of this***?”\n\nGabbard responds:\n>“***I don't dispute that these things are occurring and I've been very consistent over the years in calling out this kind of religious persecution and bigotry based on religion wherever it may take place***. *I think that's important for all of us to do, whether it's happening here in the United States, or it's happening in other parts of the world*.”\n\n**In the initial Intercept article that this section opened on, there is no mention of Joe Biden’s much cozier relationship with Modi**. ***And this is the “higher standard\" in full display***.  Jacobin published a piece titled , “[***Joe Biden’s Fascist Friends Should Worry Us More Than Tulsi’s***](https://jacobinmag.com/2019/11/joe-biden-narendra-modi-tulsi-gabbard-amit-jani-bjp)”  that exclusively focuses on the links between Biden’s campaign team and Modi. Additionally, **Biden is no non-interventionist, and asking him to police the world is more likely to result in compliance than requesting, expecting, or demanding Tulsi to deny communicative diplomacy so that she can do a 180 degree turn on her approach to diplomacy** and start burning bridges with nations instead of building them. ***After all,*** **one of the central themes of Gabbard's campaign was to challenge the country to reject the USA's self-appointed role as the world’s police.**\n\n**In 2014, after being invited by Obama to the White House, [Modi with with Joe Biden at the State Department](https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/09/232342.htm)**. As Jacobin noted, **[Joe Biden in 2015](https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/our-goal-is-to-become-india-best-friend-says-us-vice-president-joe-biden/story/224002.html) would claim that** “***Our goal is to become India’s best friend***”.  **In 2015, [Obama wrote for Time Magazine what has been called the op-ed equivalent of  love letter for Modi](https://time.com/3823155/narendra-modi-2015-time-100/)**. Obama would write that, \n>“When he came to Washington, Narendra and I visited the memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We reflected on the teachings of King and Gandhi and how the diversity of backgrounds and faiths in our countries is a strength we have to protect. Prime Minister Modi recognizes that more than 1 billion Indians living and succeeding together can be an inspiring model for the world.” \n\n...***Where was the outrage then?*** \n**Why do the overwhelming majority of those who attacked Gabbard for her relationship with Modi give no criticism to Biden for his relationship with Modi?**\n\n***However,*** **should we be concerned that Biden, Tulsi and Obama met Modi in a diplomatic fashion?**... ***Or should we be concerned at the purity tests being given to diplomats for doing their jobs and attempting to restore relations with the world's largest democracy?*** \n### Or should we be concerned that said purity tests seem to only be applied to the diplomats that rub the establishment the wrong way?   \n\n**Pieter Friedich, who was [identified by Naomi Allen for starting the “RSS affiliated” smear](https://girlygrrrl.com/developing-story-khalistani-ops/), had been a vehement proponent of this angle of attack**, by writing online as well as appearing at public events that Tulsi was speaking at and shouting smears at her in a room where people were gathered to listen to Tulsi Gabbard speak(not Pieter Friedich) - smears that many in the room had most likely already heard as a result of ***Friedich’s smears being amplified and echoed by many blue-checked bad actors on social media as well as by supporters of candidates who see Tulsi as a threat to the campaign they were behind.***\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Questioning <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiGabbard?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TulsiGabbard</a>’s <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RSS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#RSS</a> financing/relationship. Why is she so close to violent/fascist paramilitary? <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tulsi2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Tulsi2020</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiGottaGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TulsiGottaGo</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/rssfunded?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#rssfunded</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/rsscollaborator?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#rsscollaborator</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/foreigninterference?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#foreigninterference</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/indiagate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#indiagate</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chowkidar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Chowkidar</a> @SaffronWatch @ExposeHindutva <a href=\"https://twitter.com/ashoswai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ashoswai</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/India_Resists?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@India_Resists</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/RSSorg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@RSSorg</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/g8EXA8un8e\">pic.twitter.com/g8EXA8un8e</a></p> Pieter Friedrich (@FriedrichPieter) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1112227368918093824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 31, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\nWhen prominent journalists who cover Gabbard ask for proof of his allegation, he replies weakly, \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">See how much outrage there is at the mere allegation? Just wait till the documentation is public.</p> Pieter Friedrich (@FriedrichPieter) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1112372706366742533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 31, 2019</a></blockquote>\n\nMonths later Friedrich would finally offer his version of \"proof\" by tweeting an [article he gotten published by Caravan Magazine](https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1168190950046351361) titled, ***\"TAll in The Family: The American Sangh’s affair with Tulsi Gabbard\"***\n\n\n**As Mcnulty wrote in \"[Debunking Pieter Friedrich’s Tulsi Narrative](Pieter Friedrich’s Tulsi Narrative)**\",\n\n>“Friedrich’s article titled “All in the Family” was published by The Caravan political journal which, we’ll see, either did not research Friedrich’s sources, who are political rivals of Tulsi Gabbard, or they didn’t care. …\n \n>In an attempt to paint Gabbard as some kind of pro-India partisan, Friedrich writes: “***And yet, before she was even elected to office, she promised to be ‘a strong voice in Congress for improving India–US relations.***’” *This quote is taken from an interview with Aziz Haniffa*. **Friedrich conveniently leaves out the following from that interview**:\n \n>‘***As an elected official, I will work towards defending fundamental constitutional rights of free exercise of religion and the separation of church and state and adopt legislation that promotes a message of inclusiveness for Americans of all faith traditions. I will uphold federal policies that support the religious accommodation of minority faiths in a variety of settings and preclude religious discrimination against any group.***’ — Tulsi Gabbard \n \n>**Friedrich wants to tie Tulsi Gabbard’s own Hindu faith with what he considers far-right Hindu extremism in India. He fails to do that but, along the way, he takes a laughable detour into Gabbard’s upbringing among Hare Krishnas in Hawaii.** “***Her parents oversaw a Hare Krishna splinter group called the Science of Identity Foundation,” Friedrich writes.*** **This is a fabrication. Tulsi Gabbard’s parents never ran SIF. So much for The Caravan’s fact-checking.**”\n\n**Friedrich attacks Tulsi for a partial quote that was expressing a desire to improve relations with India,  a quote that was said** ***well*** **before Biden's now-famous quote expressing desire to be \"best friends\" with India. So why focus on Gabbard's campaign instead of Biden's**, who was a front runner at the time - Now the only candidate left in the race?\nRegarding the Caravan not checking Friedrich's sources, and in relation to the answer on that last question, Mcnulty had written that \"***Friedrich then cites an article from The Intercept which was retracted for Hinduphobia, in order to complain that Gabbard called him out for being a Hinduphobe. #irony***\"\n\nMcnulty continues to tear Friedrich’s paper to shreds, which takes into account his previous “activism”, writing, “***He’s also [infamous for trying to associate Mahatma Gandhi with Adolf Hitler](https://www.hafsite.org/hindu-amerrican-foundation-writes-caravan-magazine-article-targeting-hindu-american-political-donors) in order to get Gandhi statues torn down in the US.”*** . [Naomi Allen, who actually knows how to do a hit piece, does a good job of outing Friedrich for the lying propagandist he is](https://girlygrrrl.com/developing-story-khalistani-ops/), among other dirt such as potential terrorist activities(read her article and cited sources and decide for yourself). \n\nWhen [Gabbard was asked](https://medium.com/@Harihar/rep-tulsi-gabbard-on-islam-vs-islamism-c87b1ceefb1), “***How important do you believe is the Indo-US Strategic Partnership, particularly since you are close to Prime Minister Modi?***” by Rediff, her response was, \n>**“It is very important that the world’s two largest democracies — India and America — have good relations. That is why I was very happy to visit India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. I wanted to do whatever I could to strengthen the relationship between our countries.**\nWorking together on everything from fighting terrorism to combating climate change to promoting renewable energy, and much more, India and the US can make the world a better place.\n**In my attempt to strengthen the relationship between India and America, I have no interest in siding with or favouring one Indian political party over another.**\n***As a member of the US Congress, my interest is in helping cultivate a closer relationship between the US and India, not just between the US and one political party of India.***\nBoth in India and here in the US, **I have held meetings with members of both the BJP and the Congress party. I am known in America for being nonpartisan — I successfully work with Democrats and Republicans alike to get things done for the people.\nMy feeling about politics in India is similarly nonpartisan.**\n\n*mic drops*\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Tulsi is the co-chair of the House Congressional Caucus on India &amp; Indian Americans. <br><br>Tulsi does not &quot;support&quot; Modi or his party over the opposition, or have anything to do with the RSS. She conducts diplomacy with India. That&#39;s it.<br><br>Here’s Tulsi with Modi’s opposition <a href=\"https://t.co/LMdqPwRvaf\">pic.twitter.com/LMdqPwRvaf</a></p> Christopher Tishlias 🌺⌛️🔮 (@Cheese12987) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Cheese12987/status/1233085399754399744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 27, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nTo repeat for emphasis, Should we be concerned that Biden, Tulsi and Obama met Modi in a diplomatic fashion? Or should we be concerned at the purity tests being given to diplomats for doing their jobs and attempting to restore relations with the world's largest superpower? Or should we be concerned that said purity tests seem to only be applied to the diplomats that rub the establishment the wrong way? Or ontop of all that, should we be concerned that the basis of many of these purity tests are flawed to begin with?\n\n[https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*g9qVRFbkK2oL_8uxstSuTQ.jpeg]\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Unfortunately, Hinduphobia is very real. I&#39;ve experienced it directly in each of my campaigns for Congress &amp; in this presidential race. Here&#39;s just one example of what Hindus face every day in our country. Sadly, our political leaders &amp; media not only tolerate it, but foment it. <a href=\"https://t.co/60MDtszQHf\">https://t.co/60MDtszQHf</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1235633239936638983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 5, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n---\n\n## Smear: Gabbard is Islamaphobic\n## Reality: This smear is largely unfounded and usually coupled with the Modi smear. Once again, lets go straight to the horse’s mouth.\n\nWhen [Tulsi was asked](https://medium.com/@Harihar/rep-tulsi-gabbard-on-islam-vs-islamism-c87b1ceefb1), “***What is your response to social media attacks against you, including by groups alleging that you are Islamophobic? Of fomenting fear or hatred against someone based upon religion?***” \n**Her response was as follows:**\n>I am a very firm believer in the Aloha spirit — respect and love for everyone, irrespective of their religion, race, gender, or any other external differences.\nIn my view, the essence of religion means love for God and trying to serve God by working for the well-being of others.\nThe essence of the Hinduism that I practice is Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga, which means to love God and all of His children, regardless of their race, religion, etc, and to use my life working for the well-being of everyone.\n**I do not see religion as something that involves different teams or an ‘us versus them’ mentality.\nWhether we are Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, any other faith, or atheists, we are all children of God and we should love and respect each other as brothers and sisters.**”\n\nAs pointed out by the Hari in the last cited article, Tulsi publicly rejected Ben Carson’s notion that a Muslim could not be president. Hari would go on to list other points that shows her support of the Islamic community \n-**Tulsi condemned violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslims in the United States by cosponsoring [H.Res.5694](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-resolution/569/cosponsors)**\n- She spoke at the [Reason Rally regarding promoting religious freedom](https://medium.com/@TulsiGabbard/transcript-tulsis-speech-at-the-reason-rally-in-washington-d-c-this-month-85b1f2d577ea) and [pluralism](https://www.thoughtco.com/pluralism-definition-4692539)\n- She’s spoken multiple times, including [on the House floor](https://youtu.be/EZTut3CgFjc?t=3m15s) in favor of vetted refugees from Muslim-majority Iraq and Afganistan.\n- **[She endorsed Keith Ellison](https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/806440310616125440), the first Muslim elected to the US House, for DNC chair**”\n- **She was the keynote speaker at a Muslims 4 Peace event** where she said, “*The sectarian spirit that fuels enmity and violence between members of different religions has been described by the great saint Bhaktivinode Thakur as 'the greatest enemy of mankind.'*\n***When a person thinks, I am a Christian, this other person is a Muslim, therefore he is my enemy, or I am a Muslim, this other person is a Hindu, therefore she is my enemy, they reveal their own lack of spiritual depth. No religion teaches this, and any understanding of any religion that adopts this divisive attitude proves itself false by doing so.\nAs a Vaishnava Hindu, a devotee of Sri Krishna, I recognize and respect both Jesus Christ and the Prophet Mohammed as messengers of God, messengers of love, peace, and universal brotherhood.*** ” \n\nAnd the list goes on and on. Many who propagate the Islamophobe smear use hinduphobia coupled with the Modi smear. If Tulsi Gabbard were really an Islamaphobe, would she have risked her life traveling war-torn Syria in the middle of a civil war, speaking to both sides? This, as many of the other smears, are quickly debunked by simply listening to her speak about her views, and looking at her actions on the issues instead of listening to what others say she believes or thinks.\n\n---\n\n## Smear: Tulsi was part of a Cult\n## Reality: This smear was started by a writer named Gralow, who had convinced Naomi Allen, a Hawaiian native, of this narrative before she admittedly actually fact-checked Gralow’s sources.\n\nThis section really shouldn’t be necessary, but the smear has frequently popped up in replies to Tulsi’s tweets and trending tweets regarding her. Naomi reported in “[The Truth about Tulsi Gabbard’s ‘Cult’](https://girlygrrrl.com/the-truth-about-tulsi-gabbards-cult/)” that,\n\n>“**The Honolulu Civil Beat previously investigated allegations posted in the internet forum Gralow admits to using as a source.**\n[25MAR2019 Note: GRALOW personally confirmed her use of the internet forum, when she wrote to inform me that it was not her only source, and berated me for not contacting her to verify irrelevant documents.]\n**After exploring all avenues, searching official records, and conducting in-real-life interviews, the Honolulu Civil Beat debunked every controversial rumor about the so-called cult**, and ***they found absolutely*** **zero evidence** ***that Tulsi was even a member of the Science of Identity Foundation***.\"\n\nGoing on to discredit the smear, Allen writes, \n>“**When I realized that the “cult leader” GRALOW writes about is Chris Butler, I knew that her secretive cult narrative was a total lie**. ***There is no secret Butler Cult.*** **Chris Butler’s organization has always been mainstream, and his weekly lectures (when he gave them) were so public that it aired on local TV.**\n***Chris Butler is not a cult leader. He is a hippie who once ran a small meditation studio and a hippie farm, who later became a local religious celebrity. Today, he is simply an eccentric old man who lives a quiet life, with a small entourage who takes care of him.***\nAsk any of the locals who live in East Hawaii about the Kailua Cult that Tulsi Gabbard is supposedly mixed up with and you’ll get one of two (or both) reponses:\n> -  **'Fricken Bredimus.' In reference to a resident of Kailua [who has spent decades trying to convince people that SIF is a cult.](https://medium.com/@NouaDoukai/meanwhile-in-hawaii-a699970469bd)**\n> -  **'That fricken Lanikai Cult.'*In reference to an** ***actual*** **cult in Kailua that is often misattributed to SIF and Chris Butler.** In fact: [A documentary about the Buddhafield is exactly what political opponents have used in smear campaigns against Tulsi.](https://archive.fo/dYeID)\n\n>The Rick Ross forum that GRALOW does all her research in is plagued with unreliable and disproven speculations that conflate “Krishna Cults” from around the world and the “Lanikai Cult” with Chris Butler and SIF.\n**A forum member who Christine GRALOW heavily relies upon for testimony is Rama RANSON.** Besides testimony about overall cultiness, RANSON also alleges that [SIF is tied to a drug smuggling ring and an unscrupulous land development project in New Zealand.](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/68603231/)\n**RANSON and others with similar claims have been successfully sued for slander and defamation. GRALOW is fully aware of the lawsuit lodged against RANSON, yet continues to use him.**\n\nThe smears against Tulsi with a religious slant to them, whether it be concerning Modi, Islamaphobia, or the Cult are not only unfounded, but rely on prejudice themselves, namely hinduphobia. Those trying to force an ultimatum on Gabbard by implying she shouldn't be forming diplomatic relations with the world's largest democracy because of said democracy's internal ethnic and religious tensions and oppression is not only ignoring her campaign's central theme, but hypocritical in light of America's own oppression of ethnic and religious minorities. \n\nGabbard wants to end the policy of interventionism and the notion that the US needs to act as the world's police, she wants to build bridges instead of destroy them. That isn't intolerant, nor is it bigoted. That isn't what prejudice looks like - that is what progress looks like.",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"gabbard\",\"tulsi\",\"modi\",\"islamophobia\",\"cult\",\"biden\",\"islam\",\"election\"],\"users\":[\"saffronwatch\",\"exposehindutva\",\"friedrichpieter\",\"cheese12987\",\"tulsigabbard\"],\"image\":[\"https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*g9qVRFbkK2oL_8uxstSuTQ.jpeg\"],\"links\":[\"https://theintercept.com/2019/01/05/tulsi-gabbard-2020-hindu-nationalist-modi/\",\"https://medium.com/@tjmcnulty_79436/debunking-pieter-friedrichs-tulsi-narrative-1085649b2810\",\"https://theintercept.com/2019/05/09/watch-interview-with-democratic-congresswoman-and-2020-presidential-candidate-tulsi-gabbard/\",\"https://jacobinmag.com/2019/11/joe-biden-narendra-modi-tulsi-gabbard-amit-jani-bjp\",\"https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/09/232342.htm\",\"https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/our-goal-is-to-become-india-best-friend-says-us-vice-president-joe-biden/story/224002.html\",\"https://time.com/3823155/narendra-modi-2015-time-100/\",\"https://girlygrrrl.com/developing-story-khalistani-ops/\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiGabbard?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RSS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tulsi2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/TulsiGottaGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/rssfunded?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/rsscollaborator?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/foreigninterference?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/indiagate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chowkidar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/ashoswai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/India_Resists?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/RSSorg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/g8EXA8un8e\",\"https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1112227368918093824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1112372706366742533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/FriedrichPieter/status/1168190950046351361\",\"https://www.hafsite.org/hindu-amerrican-foundation-writes-caravan-magazine-article-targeting-hindu-american-political-donors\",\"https://medium.com/@Harihar/rep-tulsi-gabbard-on-islam-vs-islamism-c87b1ceefb1\",\"https://t.co/LMdqPwRvaf\",\"https://twitter.com/Cheese12987/status/1233085399754399744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/60MDtszQHf\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1235633239936638983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-resolution/569/cosponsors\",\"https://medium.com/@TulsiGabbard/transcript-tulsis-speech-at-the-reason-rally-in-washington-d-c-this-month-85b1f2d577ea\",\"https://www.thoughtco.com/pluralism-definition-4692539\",\"https://youtu.be/EZTut3CgFjc?t=3m15s\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/806440310616125440\",\"https://girlygrrrl.com/the-truth-about-tulsi-gabbards-cult/\",\"https://medium.com/@NouaDoukai/meanwhile-in-hawaii-a699970469bd\",\"https://archive.fo/dYeID\",\"https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/68603231/\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "dc7f2509de239624cee430dcc35f62ddd7e58dcf",
  "block": 42363194,
  "trx_in_block": 30,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-04-08T19:31:24",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "mitchellmcguire",
      "author": "an0nkn0wledge",
      "permlink": "re-agentsofmars-re-an0nkn0wledge-the-origins-and-50-years-of-evidence-of-a-secret-space-program-20170708t071710982z",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "5e09b96d000daee144222896438183a13b7f54b4",
  "block": 42363187,
  "trx_in_block": 12,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-04-08T19:31:03",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "mitchellmcguire",
      "author": "makecents",
      "permlink": "re-an0nkn0wledge-the-origins-and-50-years-of-evidence-of-a-secret-space-program-20170708t032735616z",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "b5e094f4836e518d6d28034d3027454a7ccdd623",
  "block": 42363164,
  "trx_in_block": 22,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-04-08T19:29:51",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "mitchellmcguire",
      "author": "an0nkn0wledge",
      "permlink": "the-origins-and-50-years-of-evidence-of-a-secret-space-program",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "317eebc88476676eb51867fd4e116989e88ec7f3",
  "block": 42362952,
  "trx_in_block": 6,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-04-08T19:18:54",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "mitchellmcguire",
      "author": "titusfrost",
      "permlink": "foai-filed-for-pizzagate-comet-ping-pong-edgar-maddison-welch-shooting-police-body-cams",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "b1bdc52a670ad94b2f5214f5e4c55dd02a356312",
  "block": 41633334,
  "trx_in_block": 19,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-03-14T03:13:57",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "emergencyubi",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "tulsi-gabbard-introduces-emergency-ubi-same-day-fed-announces-usd1-5-trillion-stimulus-package-for-wall-street",
      "title": "Tulsi Gabbard Introduces Emergency UBI same day FED announces $1.5 trillion Stimulus package for Wall Street",
      "body": "@@ -4508,16 +4508,17 @@\n ; *and*%0A\n+%3E\n (3) ***T\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"tulsi\",\"gabbard\",\"fed\",\"ubi\",\"stimulus\",\"wallstreet\",\"coronavirus\",\"emergencyubi\"],\"users\":[\"qasimrashid\",\"aoc\",\"tulsigabbard\",\"wendellpotter\",\"andrewyang\",\"fmpedmayo\"],\"image\":[\"https://img.youtube.com/vi/XpoPIAmDF8o/0.jpg\"],\"links\":[\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/897\",\"https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/12/gop-rejects-economic-relief-working-people-feds-15-trillion-stock-market-injection\",\"https://theweek.com/articles/901853/feds-15-trillion-intervention-explained\",\"https://theweek.com/articles/824019/limits-fed\",\"https://twitter.com/QasimRashid/status/1238177745277943809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1238082295359328256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1238078459559251969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-introduces-resolution-calling-emergency-universal-basic\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid_19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronavirusPandemic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1238172449117745152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/astradisastra/status/1238113162240692225\",\"https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/12/not-time-half-measures-progressives-demand-far-reaching-economic-and-public-health\",\"https://www.healthline.com/health-news/if-you-get-the-coronavirus-what-will-it-cost-you\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/EmergencyUBI?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/DRdWmmcMRX\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1238516118391791617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.newsweek.com/pelosi-promises-house-will-pass-free-universal-coronavirus-testing-paid-sick-leave-even-without-1492279\",\"https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/12/insurance-industry-corrects-trump-actually-were-only-waiving-copays-coronavirus\",\"https://twitter.com/wendellpotter/status/1238569865700454400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1237900019350421506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/marwilliamson/status/1238579727406948352\",\"https://t.co/lxvlujz9nx\",\"https://twitter.com/AndrewYang/status/1238557590319247361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/CatClifford/status/1238571382071603206\",\"https://twitter.com/AndrewYang/status/1238616062184259584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/tuser5555/status/1238559780764921856\",\"https://dailycaller.com/2019/10/15/tulsi-gabbard-endorses-andrew-yangs-universal-basic-income-plan/\",\"https://twitter.com/FMPedmayo/status/1238503387639005184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/XpoPIAmDF8o\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "ea5c9c398e5fef7734d7fb7baa2f339d4cd4e78a",
  "block": 41633211,
  "trx_in_block": 15,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-03-14T03:07:48",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "emergencyubi",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "tulsi-gabbard-introduces-emergency-ubi-same-day-fed-announces-usd1-5-trillion-stimulus-package-for-wall-street",
      "title": "Tulsi Gabbard Introduces Emergency UBI same day FED announces $1.5 trillion Stimulus package for Wall Street",
      "body": "# Tulsi Gabbard Introduces Emergency UBI Same Day FED Announces $1.5 Trillion Stimulus Package for Wall Street\n\nYesterday, on March 12th, **Tulsi Gabbard introduced legislation, [H.R.897](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/897) to provide emergency financial relief of $1000 a month to average Americans** - in contrast to the [**FED’s announcement on the same day that proclaimed the intention to inject $1.5** *Trillion* **into the stock market over 48 hours**](https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/12/gop-rejects-economic-relief-working-people-feds-15-trillion-stock-market-injection). \n\nGabbard’s bill, intended to provide 209 million American adults financial relief during this crisis, would spend 1.5 trillion dollars after over 7 months, which is much more moderate compared to the Fed’s time-frame of 2 days. While the FED required no congressional approval for this *gargantuan* level of spending, Gabbard’s bill is still awaiting approval - and has yet to garner a single cosponsor. \n\nAs [***The Week*** **noted**](https://theweek.com/articles/901853/feds-15-trillion-intervention-explained),  “***It's the rich and the powerful of Wall Street who benefit most directly from the Fed's willingness to act and go big***. *The central bank can prevent the financial system from coming apart, which is certainly a good thing.* ***But it can do little for the average person's livelihood. Not only is that a galling and unjust situation, but, like all trickle-down strategies, [its economic value is decidedly limited](https://theweek.com/articles/824019/limits-fed).***” This dynamic is what led Gabbard to propose her Emergency UBI bill which would actually provide direct emergency economic stimulus for individual Americans - rather than stock holders who are not living paycheck to paycheck and have some assets to cushion themselves from the economic fallout.\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Americans: We need $1.5T for:<br>SNAP for 700K Americans: $1.1B<br>End homelessness: $20B<br>Insulin for every diabetic: $40B<br>Universal Pre-K: $60B<br>Universal 4-yr-college: $70B<br>Cancel student debt: $1.4T<br><br>GOP: BuT HOw WiLl wE PAy fOr It<br><br>Billionaires: Market&#39;s look bad<br>FED: HERE&#39;S $1.5T!</p> Qasim Rashid for Congress (@QasimRashid) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/QasimRashid/status/1238177745277943809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 12, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nBefore the legislation was introduced, Rep. Cortez took to twitter to demand emergency UBI as seen in H.R.897 as well as debt relief and the guarantee of healthcare. \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is not the time for half measures.<br><br>We need to take dramatic action now to stave off the worst public health &amp; economic affects.<br><br>That includes making moves on paid leave, debt relief, waiving work req’s, guaranteeing healthcare, UBI, detention relief(pretrial, elderly, imm)</p> Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1238082295359328256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 12, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Federal government should consider pausing collection on student loan debt.</p> Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1238078459559251969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 12, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nThe bill that Tulsi introduced to the house would acknowledge the direct impact on everyday Americans - many of whom are already economically struggling and desperately need relief - that can be expected from this outbreak which will force many to miss work and struggle to pay bills and afford rising prices of food and medicine. The proposed legislation would go on to say that “***the Federal Government should more readily provide and prioritize direct economic relief for the American people, the majority of which are living paycheck to paycheck, rather than bailing out Wall Street banks and large corporations and industries***”\n\nThe main components of the bill would read\n>(1)*The Federal Government should create and* ***provide an emergency Universal Basic Payment of $1,000 per month available to all Americans until the Department of Health and Human Services declares that the COVID–19 outbreak no longer presents a public health emergency***;\n(2) *The Universal Basic Payment should be a* ***temporary economic stimulus package aimed to empower Americans directly and immediately***; *and*\n(3) ***The Payment should be made to every United States citizen above the age of 18 years and should be nontaxable.***\n\nAfter introducing the bill, [Gabbard would be quoted](https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-introduces-resolution-calling-emergency-universal-basic) to say,\n> “***While some in Washington are focused on taking care of Wall Street, everyday Americans get left behind***. *That’s wrong. Instead*, ***we must act swiftly to provide a temporary universal basic payment of $1,000 per month to every American adult to help them weather the storm created by this crisis***. *Taking care of all Americans will stimulate our economy during this downturn*. ***I’ve introduced a resolution that prioritizes people so our economic relief is placed directly into the hands of every American, rather than getting stuck in bureaucracy or ending up in the pockets of big corporations***.” \n\nShe would reaffirm the sentiment that Americans need ***direct*** relief on twitter:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Standing by for votes on a bipartisan emergency direct aid package for Americans most impacted by <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid_19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Covid_19</a> outbreak. The Senate needs cancel their 10-day recess &amp; stay in session, pass emergency funding right away. Don&#39;t leave the American people behind. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronavirusPandemic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CoronavirusPandemic</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1238172449117745152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 12, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nIt is worth noting that [**Italy has already suspended all mortgage and debt payments until the crisis blows over**](https://twitter.com/astradisastra/status/1238113162240692225) and [**Australia has free testing through the nation's public healthcare**](https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/12/not-time-half-measures-progressives-demand-far-reaching-economic-and-public-health). ***Meanwhile***, reports are flooding in of [**Americans racking up hundreds or even thousands of dollars in medical bills after going to the hospital to get tested, or being released from a government mandated quarantine**](https://www.healthline.com/health-news/if-you-get-the-coronavirus-what-will-it-cost-you). \n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Yesterday I introduced HRes 897 to provide an <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/EmergencyUBI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#EmergencyUBI</a> for every American — the most simple, direct form of assistance to help weather this storm. As negotiations continue on the bipartisan aid package, let your Member of Congress know why this is so important. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid_19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Covid_19</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/DRdWmmcMRX\">pic.twitter.com/DRdWmmcMRX</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1238516118391791617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n“*Too much* **attention has been focused here in Washington on bailing out Wall Street banks and corporate industries as people are making the same old tired argument of how trickle-down will eventually help the American people**. ***But really***, *as has happened so many times before*, **it's the American taxpayer that gets left holding the bag, struggling and getting no help during a time of crisis.**”\n\nSeparate from Gabbard’s legislation, Ro Khanna and Tim Ryan would introduce similar legislation that would employ an earned income tax credit, that is a tax relief or refund, to supply between $1000 and $6000 dollars to individuals earning less than $65,000 a year. **In response to these demands for direct relief to everyday Americans, House speaker Pelosi had promised to approve of legislation that guaranteed two weeks of paid sick-leave as well as free testing for the coronavirus to ease the financial burden Americans are having to**, *or going to have to*, **come to face with** - ***with or without approval by the minority republican opposition, [as reported by NewsWeek](https://www.newsweek.com/pelosi-promises-house-will-pass-free-universal-coronavirus-testing-paid-sick-leave-even-without-1492279)***.\n\nAfter talks with secretary of treasury Mnuchin, **Pelosi would later go on to inform that a deal had been made with the president and republican legislators**, *although details of which have not been released as of yet*. “***We are proud to have reached an agreement with the Administration to resolve outstanding challenges***,” Pelosi wrote in a letter to fellow legislators. \n\nAssumably, it would “***include two weeks of paid family sick leave, up to three months of paid family and medical leave, free coronavirus testing, food aid, unemployment insurance, increased federal funds for Medicaid and increases protections for frontline workers***.” *However*,  **Pelosi said nothing of the cost-sharing of treatment, instead only focusing on testing, [which the president had already addressed](https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/12/insurance-industry-corrects-trump-actually-were-only-waiving-copays-coronavirus)**.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The president said that insurers “have agreed to waive all copayments for coronavirus treatments.” Don’t count on that. Insurers’ biggest trade group (“AHIP”) said soon after Trump’s speech that what insurers would waive would be cost-sharing for testing. Not treatment. (2/10)</p> Wendell Potter (@wendellpotter) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/wendellpotter/status/1238569865700454400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nMajority Leader Steny Hoyer reaffirmed Pelosi’s stance in a letter to his colleagues, “***If we reach agreement, we'll vote on it. If not, we will vote today on our bill, which incorporates nearly all of what the Administration and Republicans have requested.***” *While paid family leave would certainly be welcomed, Tulsi’s UBI bill had not been mentioned by Pelosi*, ***or even Cortez who had called for a “No-strings UBI program” the day before Tulsi’s legislation was introduced***, along with some other desirable measures such as a temporary freeze on evictions.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Right about now would be a great time to weigh emergency measures like:<br>- Extending Medicare/Medicaid coverage to all<br>- Eviction freezes<br>- No-strings UBI programs<br>- Eliminating work requirements for SNAP &amp;other assistance<br>- Humanitarian provisions in prisons &amp; decarceral policies</p> Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1237900019350421506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 12, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nAmericans seem to relish the idea of an emergency UBI, with #EmergencyUBI trending on twitter at the moment of writing. [**Former presidential candidate Marriane Williamson would endorse Tulsi’s legislation**](https://twitter.com/marwilliamson/status/1238579727406948352). Andrew Yang, while not specifically endorsing Gabbard’s legislation by name, had also advocated for the idea of an emergency UBI yesterday - with his proposal of a general UBI being at the core of his presidential bid. \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"und\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https://t.co/lxvlujz9nx\">https://t.co/lxvlujz9nx</a></p> Andrew Yang🧢 (@AndrewYang) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/AndrewYang/status/1238557590319247361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nJust hours prior to the time of writing, Yang had recently retweeted a [tweet](https://twitter.com/CatClifford/status/1238571382071603206) that mentioned Gabbard and AOC after stating that “***the coronavirus pandemic had added fuel to the fire calling for UBI***”, and would proceed to tweet:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The seemingly radical can go mainstream in an awful hurry when circumstances demand it.</p> Andrew Yang🧢 (@AndrewYang) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/AndrewYang/status/1238616062184259584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 14, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n*Naturally*, **Gabbard’s introduction of legislation**, which is most similar to Yang’s UBI relative to the other economic relief proposals by democrats, **has [drawn the attention and appreciation of many Yang Supporters](https://twitter.com/tuser5555/status/1238559780764921856)**. It should be known that while Gabbard’s bill only calls for the temporary implementation of UBI for the duration of the coronavirus crisis so that the bill could feasibly make it past the republican controlled senate and reach the president’s desk, [**Tulsi** *has* **endorsed Yang’s proposal of a general universal basic income and incorporated it as part of her presidential platform**](https://dailycaller.com/2019/10/15/tulsi-gabbard-endorses-andrew-yangs-universal-basic-income-plan/).\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We’ve bailed out banks <br>We’ve bailed out Wall Street<br>We’ve bailed out the auto industry <br>It’s time to bail out the people. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/EmergencyUBI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#EmergencyUBI</a></p> Eric Carter 🧢💰Humanity Forward (@FMPedmayo) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/FMPedmayo/status/1238503387639005184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\n<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/XpoPIAmDF8o\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen></iframe>",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"emergencyubi\",\"tulsi\",\"gabbard\",\"fed\",\"ubi\",\"stimulus\",\"wallstreet\",\"coronavirus\"],\"users\":[\"qasimrashid\",\"aoc\",\"tulsigabbard\",\"wendellpotter\",\"andrewyang\",\"fmpedmayo\"],\"image\":[\"https://img.youtube.com/vi/XpoPIAmDF8o/0.jpg\"],\"links\":[\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/897\",\"https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/12/gop-rejects-economic-relief-working-people-feds-15-trillion-stock-market-injection\",\"https://theweek.com/articles/901853/feds-15-trillion-intervention-explained\",\"https://theweek.com/articles/824019/limits-fed\",\"https://twitter.com/QasimRashid/status/1238177745277943809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1238082295359328256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1238078459559251969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-introduces-resolution-calling-emergency-universal-basic\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid_19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronavirusPandemic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1238172449117745152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/astradisastra/status/1238113162240692225\",\"https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/12/not-time-half-measures-progressives-demand-far-reaching-economic-and-public-health\",\"https://www.healthline.com/health-news/if-you-get-the-coronavirus-what-will-it-cost-you\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/EmergencyUBI?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/DRdWmmcMRX\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1238516118391791617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.newsweek.com/pelosi-promises-house-will-pass-free-universal-coronavirus-testing-paid-sick-leave-even-without-1492279\",\"https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/12/insurance-industry-corrects-trump-actually-were-only-waiving-copays-coronavirus\",\"https://twitter.com/wendellpotter/status/1238569865700454400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1237900019350421506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/marwilliamson/status/1238579727406948352\",\"https://t.co/lxvlujz9nx\",\"https://twitter.com/AndrewYang/status/1238557590319247361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/CatClifford/status/1238571382071603206\",\"https://twitter.com/AndrewYang/status/1238616062184259584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/tuser5555/status/1238559780764921856\",\"https://dailycaller.com/2019/10/15/tulsi-gabbard-endorses-andrew-yangs-universal-basic-income-plan/\",\"https://twitter.com/FMPedmayo/status/1238503387639005184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/XpoPIAmDF8o\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "0825e0b3e5d188c617351d3ddd939442d76a092c",
  "block": 41430392,
  "trx_in_block": 15,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-03-07T01:46:18",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "tulsi",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "tulsi-gabbard-1-trending-on-google-as-dnc-changes-rules-for-the-next-debate-to-specifically-exclude-gabbard",
      "title": "Tulsi Gabbard #1 Trending on Google As DNC Changes Rules For the Next Debate To Specifically Exclude Gabbard",
      "body": "@@ -9936,17 +9936,16 @@\n ise that\n- \n ** %22***G\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"gabbard\",\"google\",\"dnc\",\"elections\",\"interference\",\"bigtech\",\"establishment\"],\"users\":[\"thehill\",\"xochitlhinojosa\",\"jimmy\",\"tulsigabbard\",\"kayrosef\",\"johnstossel\",\"eyogi01\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQme1v5nnsg46GenJtBdTQ3195PGunTWc8qLzc1PkxHsTef/TulsioutpolllingNH.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeiLS9mKVUMpaTcqGoaiZ9yFsmxYYwSocSWJLQTYtA4Jr/Tulsitrendingmarch4th.jfif\"],\"links\":[\"https://t.co/ktsUERFhGS\",\"https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1235973667559010313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/485051-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-candidates-must-also-condemn-election\",\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/bernie-sanders-briefed-by-us-officials-that-russia-is-trying-to-help-his-presidential-campaign/2020/02/21/5ad396a6-54bd-11ea-929a-64efa7482a77_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter\",\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/michael-bloomberg-and-tulsi-gabbard-pick-up-their-first-ever-delegates-in-america-samoa\",\"https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dnc-says-debate-threshold-will-go-up-after-gabbard-clears-previous-mark\",\"https://twitter.com/XochitlHinojosa/status/1235009904634728448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/cnn-just-rigged-its-new-hampshire-town-halls-by-snubbing-tulsi-gabbard?_amp=true#click=https://t.co/qIvXMCKpcG\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/HetuVBywjY\",\"https://twitter.com/jimmy_dore/status/1235016746928451584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/kayrosef/status/1235569466530021376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/lCd5tGksKq\",\"https://twitter.com/JohnStossel/status/1235221663312117760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/jgVxSz1huX\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1235657849100849152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.newsweek.com/judge-throws-out-tulsi-gabbards-lawsuit-alleging-google-violated-her-free-speech-rights-1490602\",\"https://medium.com/@mcguiremitchell32/how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-is-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-two-steemit-71412d777d85?source=friends_link&sk=6465c8471e851ca485e505a84f05ea17\",\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/clinton-email-reveals-google-sought-overthrow-of-syrias-assad\",\"https://wikileaks.org/google-is-not-what-it-seems/\",\"https://archive.is/ZHlxT\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithTulsi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/ol92qzXuo7\",\"https://twitter.com/EYogi01/status/1235299073873391616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://reclaimthenet.org/tulsi-gabbard-tech-censorship/\",\"https://medium.com/@mcguiremitchell32/how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-is-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-one-steemit-ad8fb0fe7e95?source=friends_link&sk=2f0be0c38b4cc4fe7a4870b62e7369a7\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "b2eeacae2b53d3528af47bac0f61c68ea869a229",
  "block": 41430195,
  "trx_in_block": 34,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-03-07T01:36:27",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "tulsi",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "tulsi-gabbard-1-trending-on-google-as-dnc-changes-rules-for-the-next-debate-to-specifically-exclude-gabbard",
      "title": "Tulsi Gabbard #1 Trending on Google As DNC Changes Rules For the Next Debate To Specifically Exclude Gabbard",
      "body": "# Tulsi Gabbard #1 Trending on Google As DNC Changes Rules For the Next Debate To Specifically Exclude Gabbard\n\nThe past 2 weeks have been quite eventful for presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, who, yes, is still in the race as much as Bernie and others like to deceitfully pretend otherwise.\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sen. Bernie Sanders: &quot;There were some 18 candidates contesting for the Democratic nomination. Well, we&#39;re down to 2.&quot; <a href=\"https://t.co/ktsUERFhGS\">pic.twitter.com/ktsUERFhGS</a></p> The Hill (@thehill) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1235973667559010313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 6, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\n **In light of** (*baseless*) **allegations of Russian support for Bernie Sanders, Gabbard wrote an op-ed for The Hill just over a week ago on Feb. 27th that was titled, \"[Presidential candidates must also condemn election interference by US intelligence agencies](https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/485051-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-candidates-must-also-condemn-election)**\". \n\n>Reckless claims by anonymous intelligence officials that Russia is “helping” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are deeply irresponsible. ...  **I am calling on all presidential candidates to stop playing these dangerous political games and immediately condemn any interference in our elections by out-of-control intelligence agencies.**\n\nThe article is jam-packed with heavy-hitting shots taken at the DNC, the mainstream media, intelligence agencies, Trump, and even the other democratic nominees. This op-ed inevitably pissed off *alot* of people. ***Referring to the \"manufactured media firestorm\" set off by [WAPO's initial article alleging Russian support for Sanders in 2020](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/bernie-sanders-briefed-by-us-officials-that-russia-is-trying-to-help-his-presidential-campaign/2020/02/21/5ad396a6-54bd-11ea-929a-64efa7482a77_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter)***, Gabbard would state that:\n\n>**This is a laughably obvious ploy to stifle legitimate criticism and cast aspersions on Americans who are rightly skeptical of the powerful forces exerting control over the primary election process**. We are told the aim of Russia is to “sow division,” but **the aim of corporate media and self-serving politicians pushing this narrative is clearly to sow division of their own — by generating baseless suspicion against the Sanders campaign**.\n\n>***It’s extremely disingenuous for “journalists” and rival candidates to publicize a news article that merely asserts,*** **without presenting any evidence**, ***that Russia is “helping” Bernie Sanders*** — but provides no information as to what that “help” allegedly consists of.\n\nAfter further emphasizing that no evidence what so ever has been provided to support these \"***highly dubious and vague insinuations filtered through its [intel community] preferred media outlets***\", Tulsi would state that \"***All this does is undermine voters’ trust in our elections, which is what we are constantly told is the goal of Russia.***\" \n\nTulsi would denounce this \"***new McCarthyism***\" as an attempt to suppress genuine concerns and grievances of the American people - ***\"with the threat that if they dare criticize the Democratic Party establishment, they will be labeled hostile foreign agents\"***\n\n>It is now clear that the mainstream corporate media and the warmongering political establishment are seeking to do two things:\n\n>>1. **Create enough suspicion around Sanders**, by **falsely tarnishing him as a puppet of Russia**, that he loses the election.\n>>2. ***Or, at the very least,*** if Bernie wins the Democratic nomination, **force him to engage in inflammatory anti-Russia rhetoric and perpetuate the new Cold War and nuclear arms race, which are existential threats to our country and the world.**\n\n\n\n\n---\nOn March 3rd, Super Tuesday, days after Tulsi wrote her op-ed on interference in our elections by unrestrained, runaway intelligence agencies that have gone unchecked, [Gabbard would win her first delegate from American Samoa, as would Michael Bloomberg](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/michael-bloomberg-and-tulsi-gabbard-pick-up-their-first-ever-delegates-in-america-samoa).  **Gabbard acquiring a delegate would have allowed her to attend the next debate.... If the DNC had not changed it's rules after her victory on Super Tuesday** - ***but it did*** .  Not only would one delegate have been enough, but she actually won two, despite many in the media reporting or implicating only one was aquired. Fox News reports in the article, **\"[DNC says debate 'threshold will go up' after Gabbard clears previous mark](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dnc-says-debate-threshold-will-go-up-after-gabbard-clears-previous-mark)**\":\n\n>Candidates who had at least one pledged delegate automatically qualified for the debates that took place in New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina earlier this year\n\nHowever, after the polls closed on Super Tuesday, the DNC communications director would tweet that they are changing the criteria for the next debate:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We have two more debates-- of course the threshold will go up. By the time we have the March debate, almost 2,000 delegates will be allocated. The threshold will reflect where we are in the race, as it always has.</p> Xochitl Hinojosa (@XochitlHinojosa) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/XochitlHinojosa/status/1235009904634728448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 4, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nThis did not sit well with Tulsi supporters, who have already watched her be [systematically kept out of other debates such as CNN's town hall in New Hampshire, a state where she was consistently polling higher than 3 of the candidates invited: Yang, Steyer, and Patrick](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/cnn-just-rigged-its-new-hampshire-town-halls-by-snubbing-tulsi-gabbard?_amp=true#click=https://t.co/qIvXMCKpcG). And **if you were to count the many polls where she was beating Klobuchar, she was out polling half of the candidates CNN extended an invitation to**. \n\n![TulsioutpolllingNH.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQme1v5nnsg46GenJtBdTQ3195PGunTWc8qLzc1PkxHsTef/TulsioutpolllingNH.png)\n\nWhile the DNC tried to pass of the change in the debate rules following Gabbard's acquisition of two delegates on Super Tuesday, it is not normal. It is not okay. It is blatant interference in our democracy by the corrupt DNC establishment. \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TulsiGabbard</a> wins her first delegate which qualifies her for the next debate. <br><br>So they are now changing the rules and pretending it’s normal. <br><br>Just get it in your head, The War Machine will not be challenged.<br><br>Stay afraid of Russia! <a href=\"https://t.co/HetuVBywjY\">https://t.co/HetuVBywjY</a></p> Jimmy Dore (@jimmy_dore) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/jimmy_dore/status/1235016746928451584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 4, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nJimmy Dore would supplement that tweet by pointing to his coverage of Gabbard's recent Op-ed covered at the beginning of this article, saying that, \n\n>**@TulsiGabbard Drops Truth Bomb About Election Interference & the Democrats immediately change the rules to keep her out of the debates.**\n\n>***[This](https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/485051-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-candidates-must-also-condemn-election) is EXACTLY why they are cheating to keep @TulsiGabbard out of debates***, **she’s THE ONLY CANDIDATE with the courage to tell Americans what is REALLY going on with their Intelligence Agencies, their Wars, & our Elections!**\"\n\nMany disenfranchised Tulsi supporters tried to cope with the recent display of blatant corruption by the DNC through comedy:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">BREAKING: The DNC just released their new debate requirements.<br><br>Required delegates: n+1<br><br>(n=amount of delegates Tulsi Gabbard currently has)</p> K. Rosef (@kayrosef) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/kayrosef/status/1235569466530021376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 5, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\n\n\nNot letting this reprehensible DNC rule change go unopposed, Tulsi Gabbard would respond to this tweet:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Yesterday <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TulsiGabbard</a> won one delegate. By DNC rules, that gets her into the next two debates…So the DNC changed the rules!<br><br>They don’t like her opposition to the War on Drugs? To our soldiers in the Middle East? Here’s more about <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TulsiGabbard</a>: <a href=\"https://t.co/lCd5tGksKq\">pic.twitter.com/lCd5tGksKq</a></p> John Stossel (@JohnStossel) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/JohnStossel/status/1235221663312117760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 4, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nHer comment would read\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I welcome the opportunity to raise &amp; discuss the foreign policy challenges we face, like the new cold war/nuclear arms race, Turkey&#39;s efforts to drag the U.S. into a war with Russia over Syria, the coronavirus, &amp; more. Domestic policy cannot be separated from foreign policy. <a href=\"https://t.co/jgVxSz1huX\">https://t.co/jgVxSz1huX</a></p> Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1235657849100849152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 5, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\n--- \n\nThe day following Super Tuesday, on March 4th, **[U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson dismissed Gabbard's lawsuit against Google](https://www.newsweek.com/judge-throws-out-tulsi-gabbards-lawsuit-alleging-google-violated-her-free-speech-rights-1490602), throwing it out under the premise that ** \"***Google is not now, nor (to the Court's knowledge) has it ever been, an arm of the United States government\"***, with his decision pointing out that the protection of freedom of speech only applies to government affiliated entities.\n\n The problem with this is Google HAS been shown to act as an arm of the United State's governments.  As addressed in **[Part Two of How and Why Tulsi Gabbard is Held to a Higher Standard](https://medium.com/@mcguiremitchell32/how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-is-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-two-steemit-71412d777d85?source=friends_link&sk=6465c8471e851ca485e505a84f05ea17)**, ***which addresses [Google having VOLUNTEERED unsolicited assistance to the Clinton State department for its regime change agenda in Syria](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/clinton-email-reveals-google-sought-overthrow-of-syrias-assad)*** *among many other documented connections and events that clearly show ties between Google and the State Department and government entities*, **[Google DOES act as an arm of the United States Government.](https://wikileaks.org/google-is-not-what-it-seems/)**\n\n**This litigation against Google for interfering in our democracy being dismissed by a federal judge for dubious reasons** ***the day after DNC announced that they would up the requirements for the next debate*** **had Tulsi #1 trending on Google on March 4th**, ***with over 500,000 searches, 10x that of the #2 trending search at the time I archived the page***. [The archived Google Trends page can be found here.](https://archive.is/ZHlxT). Although, while Tulsi remained #1 throughout the day, the #2 search was drifting between a few different searches.  \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">WOW! <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TulsiGabbard</a> is #1 trending on Google today!!! Over 500,000 searches today! 😎🏄‍♀️🔥<a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithTulsi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#StandWithTulsi</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/ol92qzXuo7\">pic.twitter.com/ol92qzXuo7</a></p> EarthYogi 🕉🌐Ⓥ🌺 (@EYogi01) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/EYogi01/status/1235299073873391616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 4, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\n![Tulsitrendingmarch4th.jfif](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeiLS9mKVUMpaTcqGoaiZ9yFsmxYYwSocSWJLQTYtA4Jr/Tulsitrendingmarch4th.jfif)\n\n**Many Americans are far more worried about the DNC and Big tech agencies interfering in our democracy than Russia, as the DNC and [Big Tech do it blatantly in plain sight](https://reclaimthenet.org/tulsi-gabbard-tech-censorship/), without repercussions or apologies**. Russia is not expected to wholeheartedly respect our democracy, they are a foreign actor who have their own interests to challenge US imperialism, which is seen interfering in democracies across the world. However, the DNC and Big Tech's interference in our democracy being disregarded and allowed by the government is a disgrace, a stain on our democracy These are American institutions, they should be expected to respect the integrity of American elections. \n\nThe ironically-named democratic party is one of two parties that realistically can nominate a candidate for president who can acquire momentum - unless a political revolution dismantles the two-party system that has our country grid-locked in an ultimatum between two corrupt parties. Our democracy's integrity is dependent on the integrity of the two parties that comprise it. Our democracy is also dependent on the freedom of information and speech, which as federal judge Wilson acknowledged, apparently does not apply to private companies - even if they have virtual monopolies(no pun intended) on the distribution of information to the average citizen. \n\nThis doesn't even mention the [intelligence agencies and the mainstream media they have influence over](https://medium.com/@mcguiremitchell32/how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-is-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-one-steemit-ad8fb0fe7e95?source=friends_link&sk=2f0be0c38b4cc4fe7a4870b62e7369a7). As Tulsi Gabbard said at the end of her op-ed released last week,\n\n>The question facing any potential Democratic nominee is this: ***Am I going to allow myself to be manipulated and forced into a corner by overreaching intelligence agencies and the corporate media where***, in order for me to win the presidency, I'm going to have ***to do what I know is not in the interests of the American people and world peace?***\n\n>**Or will I stand up to the corrupt neocon and neoliberal establishment, condemn their lies and smears, and act with the integrity and foresight necessary to forge a rational policy that will serve all our interests?**",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"tulsi\",\"gabbard\",\"google\",\"dnc\",\"elections\",\"interference\",\"bigtech\",\"establishment\"],\"users\":[\"thehill\",\"xochitlhinojosa\",\"jimmy\",\"tulsigabbard\",\"kayrosef\",\"johnstossel\",\"eyogi01\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQme1v5nnsg46GenJtBdTQ3195PGunTWc8qLzc1PkxHsTef/TulsioutpolllingNH.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeiLS9mKVUMpaTcqGoaiZ9yFsmxYYwSocSWJLQTYtA4Jr/Tulsitrendingmarch4th.jfif\"],\"links\":[\"https://t.co/ktsUERFhGS\",\"https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1235973667559010313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/485051-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-candidates-must-also-condemn-election\",\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/bernie-sanders-briefed-by-us-officials-that-russia-is-trying-to-help-his-presidential-campaign/2020/02/21/5ad396a6-54bd-11ea-929a-64efa7482a77_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter\",\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/michael-bloomberg-and-tulsi-gabbard-pick-up-their-first-ever-delegates-in-america-samoa\",\"https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dnc-says-debate-threshold-will-go-up-after-gabbard-clears-previous-mark\",\"https://twitter.com/XochitlHinojosa/status/1235009904634728448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/cnn-just-rigged-its-new-hampshire-town-halls-by-snubbing-tulsi-gabbard?_amp=true#click=https://t.co/qIvXMCKpcG\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/HetuVBywjY\",\"https://twitter.com/jimmy_dore/status/1235016746928451584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/kayrosef/status/1235569466530021376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/lCd5tGksKq\",\"https://twitter.com/JohnStossel/status/1235221663312117760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/jgVxSz1huX\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1235657849100849152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.newsweek.com/judge-throws-out-tulsi-gabbards-lawsuit-alleging-google-violated-her-free-speech-rights-1490602\",\"https://medium.com/@mcguiremitchell32/how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-is-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-two-steemit-71412d777d85?source=friends_link&sk=6465c8471e851ca485e505a84f05ea17\",\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/clinton-email-reveals-google-sought-overthrow-of-syrias-assad\",\"https://wikileaks.org/google-is-not-what-it-seems/\",\"https://archive.is/ZHlxT\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithTulsi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/ol92qzXuo7\",\"https://twitter.com/EYogi01/status/1235299073873391616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://reclaimthenet.org/tulsi-gabbard-tech-censorship/\",\"https://medium.com/@mcguiremitchell32/how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-is-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-one-steemit-ad8fb0fe7e95?source=friends_link&sk=2f0be0c38b4cc4fe7a4870b62e7369a7\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "4283449d7006eb9caa800498233037d8715d564a",
  "block": 41212152,
  "trx_in_block": 32,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-02-28T10:46:30",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "assange",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-cassandra-fairbanks-exposed-trump-s-political-persecution-of-assange-in-extradition-case",
      "title": "How Cassandra Fairbanks Exposed Trump's Political Extradition and Persecution of Julian Assange",
      "body": "@@ -159,21 +159,17 @@\n dio \n-transcription\n+recording\n ** c\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"wikileaks\",\"unity4j\",\"news\",\"politics\",\"liberty\",\"government\",\"trump\"],\"users\":[\"suzi3d\",\"cassandrarules\",\"caitoz\",\"wearechange\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmartgUbHwrR7T57oF8c84YKTuS6ANDNannr6zgdt3Uonw/CassandrastandsuptoTrump.jfif\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmf274LeLFJqyTPm72gzecKjGNp4GHcxYSPDB7t5gN9sF6/Julianscreaming3.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfVhQQWvPpqkRyGnkLBxbLAYmGcjFuXaMsYBQ6CHzagwk/AssangepentagonManningtrialIdonthavespecificevidenceofharm.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNqrXPoLarGYjekrk4BRfnNf7WrnSZfC1Wktmk7t5Patz/Unity4J.jpg\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc1uGS72GiFV122jVVGeqRn6Vv8V1p8kVjxeYAvsGyFWu/MadeabenjaminandFairbanks.jpg\"],\"links\":[\"https://twitter.com/TweetBrettMac/status/1232445416089632768\",\"https://protectsuzie.com/\",\"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meet-suzie-dawson-the-nz-journalist-seeking-asylum_b_58ae200de4b0d0d07e7c6713\",\"https://youtu.be/RIDM9IMliwE\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/7u6s91ryJe\",\"https://twitter.com/Suzi3D/status/1232451598187556864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/24/assange-grenell-intelligence-117244\",\"https://twitter.com/cassandrarules\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232443690540421121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.newser.com/story/287214/one-word-being-used-to-describe-new-intel-chief.html\",\"https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8022573/Donald-Trump-makes-Rick-Grenell-director-national-intelligence-gay-cabinet-secretary.html\",\"https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-gave-verbal-pledge-death-penalty-assange-sources/story?id=62414643\",\"https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-trump-jrs-fixer-wages-war-against-the-media\",\"https://www.rt.com/news/481690-assange-arrest-grenell-trump-order/\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232439425629483009\",\"https://twitter.com/BGHeaven/status/1232469084542910464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/TzrZjV4yNJ\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232477330787819520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/vMAT5cCmmm\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232496717632720898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/10/mother-of-julian-assange-president-trump-could-send-a-clear-message-to-the-swamp-by-preemptively-pardoning-my-son/\",\"https://t.co/oYJQeAdZ6L\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1131976303354290176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232502172325203968\",\"https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-37507542\",\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/10/cia-had-access-to-server-where-spanish-company-kept-profiles-on-julian-assanges-guests-including-doctors-diplomats-lawyers-and-journalists/\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232505658064461824\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232509239878463490\",\"https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_offence_exception#United_States\",\"https://t.co/4ATbxkTU4I\",\"https://twitter.com/caitoz/status/1232460737890504705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "113bdfbaabc6f34ee7497b08dce56252ffdb108b",
  "block": 41211908,
  "trx_in_block": 8,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-02-28T10:34:18",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "partitura.point",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-cassandra-fairbanks-exposed-trump-s-political-persecution-of-assange-in-extradition-case",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "2a434137b315f4e32b51c7b0a06697b8fdf83ac1",
  "block": 41211809,
  "trx_in_block": 2,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-02-28T10:29:21",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "assange",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-cassandra-fairbanks-exposed-trump-s-political-persecution-of-assange-in-extradition-case",
      "title": "How Cassandra Fairbanks Exposed Trump's Political Extradition and Persecution of Julian Assange",
      "body": "@@ -3775,16 +3775,17 @@\n .%0A%0APolit\n-\n \n+i\n co's art\n@@ -6987,16 +6987,17 @@\n  twitter\n-\n \n+ \n is advis\n@@ -11402,17 +11402,17 @@\n w with M\n-R\n+r\n s. Assan\n@@ -12256,17 +12256,16 @@\n  disturb\n-,\n  and int\n@@ -12270,27 +12270,30 @@\n nterrupt\n-ed\n+ing\n  the \n-call\n+stream\n , as ack\n@@ -18085,21 +18085,21 @@\n cturing.\n-..and\n+ Both\n  foreign\n@@ -18124,18 +18124,24 @@\n policy w\n-as\n+ere also\n  importa\n@@ -18149,16 +18149,17 @@\n t to her\n+ \n (again, \n@@ -25273,16 +25273,24 @@\n shak\n-e\n y voice\n+ at times\n , sh\n@@ -26730,17 +26730,17 @@\n UK. And \n-S\n+s\n o I twee\n@@ -29097,16 +29097,17 @@\n they wer\n+e\n n't abou\n@@ -29584,16 +29584,62 @@\n article.\n+ After concluding its playback, she would say:\n %0A%0A%3EAs yo\n@@ -30297,24 +30297,205 @@\n .. Bye.%0A%0A---\n-\n \n+%0A%0AFollowing the stream, a twitter user would ask Fairbanks if she is scared. %5BShe would answer%5D(https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232509239878463490) , %22**Of course I am**%22\n %0A%0A**Craig Mu\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"wikileaks\",\"unity4j\",\"news\",\"politics\",\"liberty\",\"government\",\"trump\"],\"users\":[\"suzi3d\",\"cassandrarules\",\"caitoz\",\"wearechange\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmartgUbHwrR7T57oF8c84YKTuS6ANDNannr6zgdt3Uonw/CassandrastandsuptoTrump.jfif\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmf274LeLFJqyTPm72gzecKjGNp4GHcxYSPDB7t5gN9sF6/Julianscreaming3.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfVhQQWvPpqkRyGnkLBxbLAYmGcjFuXaMsYBQ6CHzagwk/AssangepentagonManningtrialIdonthavespecificevidenceofharm.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNqrXPoLarGYjekrk4BRfnNf7WrnSZfC1Wktmk7t5Patz/Unity4J.jpg\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc1uGS72GiFV122jVVGeqRn6Vv8V1p8kVjxeYAvsGyFWu/MadeabenjaminandFairbanks.jpg\"],\"links\":[\"https://twitter.com/TweetBrettMac/status/1232445416089632768\",\"https://protectsuzie.com/\",\"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meet-suzie-dawson-the-nz-journalist-seeking-asylum_b_58ae200de4b0d0d07e7c6713\",\"https://youtu.be/RIDM9IMliwE\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/7u6s91ryJe\",\"https://twitter.com/Suzi3D/status/1232451598187556864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/24/assange-grenell-intelligence-117244\",\"https://twitter.com/cassandrarules\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232443690540421121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.newser.com/story/287214/one-word-being-used-to-describe-new-intel-chief.html\",\"https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8022573/Donald-Trump-makes-Rick-Grenell-director-national-intelligence-gay-cabinet-secretary.html\",\"https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-gave-verbal-pledge-death-penalty-assange-sources/story?id=62414643\",\"https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-trump-jrs-fixer-wages-war-against-the-media\",\"https://www.rt.com/news/481690-assange-arrest-grenell-trump-order/\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232439425629483009\",\"https://twitter.com/BGHeaven/status/1232469084542910464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/TzrZjV4yNJ\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232477330787819520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/vMAT5cCmmm\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232496717632720898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/10/mother-of-julian-assange-president-trump-could-send-a-clear-message-to-the-swamp-by-preemptively-pardoning-my-son/\",\"https://t.co/oYJQeAdZ6L\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1131976303354290176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232502172325203968\",\"https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-37507542\",\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/10/cia-had-access-to-server-where-spanish-company-kept-profiles-on-julian-assanges-guests-including-doctors-diplomats-lawyers-and-journalists/\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232505658064461824\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232509239878463490\",\"https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_offence_exception#United_States\",\"https://t.co/4ATbxkTU4I\",\"https://twitter.com/caitoz/status/1232460737890504705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "5485a603d8a25db18c57ce1f3892b10219a2abe4",
  "block": 41210858,
  "trx_in_block": 2,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-02-28T09:41:45",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "assange",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-cassandra-fairbanks-exposed-trump-s-political-persecution-of-assange-in-extradition-case",
      "title": "How Cassandra Fairbanks Exposed Trump's Political Extradition and Persecution of Julian Assange",
      "body": "**The hell raising shit-storm Cassandra Fairbanks unleashed on the Empire made its way into the public eye when the ardent Assange supporter tweeted out an audio transcription** captioned \"The phone call\" on Feb. 25th, **essentially proving that Trump has personally ordered Grenell, who was then the US ambassador to Germany, to make a deal with Ecuador so that Assange could be taken from the Embassy with their permission.** [Brett McDonald would describe the phone call as](https://twitter.com/TweetBrettMac/status/1232445416089632768) \"***Arthur Schwartz begging for his life...***\" \n\n**[ A targeted citizen journalist](https://protectsuzie.com/) who [is seeking asylum](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meet-suzie-dawson-the-nz-journalist-seeking-asylum_b_58ae200de4b0d0d07e7c6713) after [exposing corruption within the intelligence community](https://youtu.be/RIDM9IMliwE)**, ***Suzie Dawson***, who helped cofound #Unity4J, highlighted the importance of this event, tweeting out:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I&#39;ve been biting my tongue on this so long but I can&#39;t hold back any longer.<a href=\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CassandraRules</a> is a brave woman, a good journo, and she may well be what saves Julian Assange&#39;s life. <br><br>This means a LOT of people are going to be eating a slice of humble pie.<a href=\"https://t.co/7u6s91ryJe\">https://t.co/7u6s91ryJe</a></p> Suzie Dawson (@Suzi3D) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Suzi3D/status/1232451598187556864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 25, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nBefore getting into the phone call, some important contextual background information should be given so the reader does not have to reverse engineer the happening.\n\n**The day before Cassandra uploaded the phone call's audio to twitter, Politico had published an article** that read, **\"[Assange fight draws in Trump's new intel chief](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/24/assange-grenell-intelligence-117244)\"** with the subtitle reading ***\"Lawyers for the WikiLeaks founder plan to use newly obtained recordings and screenshots to argue that Assange's prosecution is political in nature\"***.\n\nThese recordings and screenshots mentioned belong to [Cassandra Fairbanks](https://twitter.com/cassandrarules) who had not publicly released them at the time. **Cassandra had distributed the materials with some people \"[in case anything happened to](https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232443690540421121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)\" her**, including Property of the People, who then leaked them to Politico. Politico would report:\n\n>**Attorneys for Julian Assange ... plan to introduce evidence in the WikiLeaks founder’s extradition hearing involving President Donald Trump’s new intel chief** ***Richard Grenell.***\n\n>Gareth Peirce, a lawyer representing Assange in his extradition proceedings in London, plans to argue this week that the process to try to extradite her client was abused from early on. **Representatives for Assange’s defense team say they expect to introduce recordings and screenshots of communications of a close Grenell associate [Arthur Schwartz], including a secondhand claim that Grenell was acting on the president’s orders.**\n\nPolitico would acknowledge that \"*Grenell’s sudden embroilment in Assange’s extradition fight comes at an inconvenient time\"* as [Grenell](https://www.newser.com/story/287214/one-word-being-used-to-describe-new-intel-chief.html), one of [Trump's closest \"loyalists\"](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8022573/Donald-Trump-makes-Rick-Grenell-director-national-intelligence-gay-cabinet-secretary.html), has faced much partisan criticism over his recent appointment by Trump as the acting director of national intelligence.\n\nPolitco's article would also note that revelations from Cassandra's phone call \"***threatens to spotlight his close relationship with President Trump, feeding the widespread perception that the president is politicizing intelligence work for partisan ends.***\"\n\n> **At the heart of the Assange team’s argument is an ABC News report from last April alleging that,** while serving as Trump’s ambassador to Germany, ***Grenell told Assange’s Ecuadorean hosts that the U.S. government would not pursue the death penalty for Assange if Ecuador allowed British officials to enter its embassy in London and arrest him.***\n\nThis [ABC news report](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-gave-verbal-pledge-death-penalty-assange-sources/story?id=62414643) is the subject of the phone call between Cassandra and Schwart'z  phone call, which took place in September of 2019. [Schwartz, a \"fixer\" for Donald Jr.](https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-trump-jrs-fixer-wages-war-against-the-media) ,  called Cassandra over a [deleted tweet from September 10th](https://www.rt.com/news/481690-assange-arrest-grenell-trump-order/) , because Cassandra had tweeted information from that ABC news report. The information she propagated was the fact that ***Richard Grenell***, who was serving as a US ambassador to Germany at the time, “***was the one who worked out the deal for Julian Assange’s arrest.***”\n\n>**Assange’s legal team will claim that Grenell’s role was more extensive than previously known, and that it corrupted the extradition process early on. The suggestion will be that the U.S. was so desperate to get Assange in its custody that American officials, via Grenell, agreed in advance to take a particular sentence off the table before even allowing a trial and sentencing to play out.**\n\n>***The WikiLeaks founder’s attorneys are also expected to present evidence that they believe shows Trump explicitly tasked Grenell with making the offer, thereby politicizing the process***. One of Assange’s lawyers, Edward **Fitzgerald, hinted at this argument in his opening statement on Monday, when he said that Assange’s prosecution was** “***not motivated by genuine concerns for criminal justice but politics.***\n\nThese remarks are relying on information from the leaked calls and screenshots by Cassandra. Being that Fairbanks had content from her recordings and screenshots already published by Politico, she would tweet the Politico-featured phone call's audio to the public  which was followed with a tweet that would read:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I shared the calls (there’s more than this one) and timeline of events with some people in case anything happened to me because he was so frantic. They have been sharing it all over the place and leaking it against my requests. So, figured I’ll do it myself.</p> Cassandra Fairbanks 🕊⏳ (@CassandraRules) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232443690540421121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 25, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nAlthough the written word cannot give justice to the inflection and tones of voice heard in [the audio](https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232439425629483009), and listening to the audio on her twitteris advised, here is a rough transcript of the phone call: \n---\n\n**Schwartz**: You're posting classified information on twitter. You cant do that.\n\n**Cassandra**: What- I'm not posting classified information.\n\n**Schwartz**: *\\*incoherent stumbling over words*\\* Yeah, that's classified, you can't do that.\n\n**Cassandra**: ABC News already reported it, that's where I saw it.\n\n**Schwartz**: Yeah, but, yeah but that is wrong. You are - You are posting things that are classified *\\*inaudible*\\* things that have not been reported.\n\n**Cassandra**: That was reported by ABC news.\n\n**Schwartz** *\\*Angrily*\\* : Yeah, I know what was reported, I see what you are tweeting. What you are tweeting is not what was reported. ***Someone is going to go to jail***. You need to stop this. \n\n**Cassandra**: Yeah, ***Julian is in jail right now, because of this.***.. Well, I mean, I'll delete my tweet only because you are saying you will get in trouble - \n\n**Schwartz interrupts**: - ***I don't want to go to jail. Please. I'm begging you.*** -\n\n**Cassandra**: All right, I will delete it, I was just referring to the ABC news report \n\n**Schwartz**: Okay, but like, they look at you, they see that we speak, like that's bad. \n\n**Cassandra**: I mean the reason I - \n\n### **Schwartz**(*aggressively*) : - **He is taking orders from the President**\nOkay? So you are gonna punish me because he took orders from the president? -\n\n**Cassandra**: I wasn't punishing you, I was tweeting from an ABC news report.\n\n**Schwartz**:  Ok.\n\n**Cassandra**: Remember, ***I called you*** about it.\n\n**Schwartz**: I am begging you, I am begging you, please.\n\n**Cassandra**: Alright. I will delete the tweets.\n\n**Schwartz**: Thank you .\n\n**\\*Line disconnects\\***\n\n---\n\nOne of the [event's spectators would ask Cassandra to clarify](https://twitter.com/BGHeaven/status/1232469084542910464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), \n>So he leaked classified info to you.  Freaked out because you tweeted about an ABC report in which he thought was the classified info he had leaked to you?\n\n>Do I have that straight?\n\nTo which she would reply:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">He told me a deal was made to arrest Assange in October 2018. I just put the pieces together — which is what made him freak out. <a href=\"https://t.co/TzrZjV4yNJ\">https://t.co/TzrZjV4yNJ</a></p> Cassandra Fairbanks 🕊⏳ (@CassandraRules) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232477330787819520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 26, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nShe would also tweet:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It all started because of this interview I did with Julian’s mother.<a href=\"https://t.co/vMAT5cCmmm\">https://t.co/vMAT5cCmmm</a></p> Cassandra Fairbanks 🕊⏳ (@CassandraRules) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232496717632720898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 26, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n**[Her interview with Mrs. Assange](https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/10/mother-of-julian-assange-president-trump-could-send-a-clear-message-to-the-swamp-by-preemptively-pardoning-my-son/)** from the eve of Halloween of 2018 that she is referring to would have Mrs. Assange pleading Trump to follow through on his promise to \"drain the swamp\", urging the president to issue a preemptive pardon. Julian's mother would be quoted to say:\n\n>“Both [Assange and Trump] have been ruthlessly smeared and attacked by deep state players in the intelligence agencies, media and entertainment industry. I believe that if President Trump was to give Julian a preemptive pardon and save his life from the brutal political persecution and torture that he has endured for years at the hands of corrupt deep state ‘swamp’ elites, it would send a clear message to all that he is man of his word, a courageous leader who stands up for the American Constitution — a man worthy of the office of President.”\n\nThe implication Cassandra was making when she said it began with that interview was that **when Fairbanks had started to hold Trump accountable to his  rhetoric, expecting him to follow through on his promises to \"drain the swamp\" and help fight \"the deep state\" after supporting him as the anti-establishment candidate, she began to be a thorn in the Trump administration**. ***God forbid someone expect the president to follow through on the anti-establishment platform they campaigned on.***\n\nMonths after her interview with MRs. Assange, she would take shots at Trump in a tweet with a Pro-Assange graphic that read:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Free Julian Assange. He’s spent his life fighting the same deep state you claim to stand against (but keep hiring) <a href=\"https://t.co/oYJQeAdZ6L\">pic.twitter.com/oYJQeAdZ6L</a></p> Cassandra Fairbanks 🕊⏳ (@CassandraRules) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1131976303354290176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 24, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\n![CassandrastandsuptoTrump.jfif](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmartgUbHwrR7T57oF8c84YKTuS6ANDNannr6zgdt3Uonw/CassandrastandsuptoTrump.jfif)\n\nWaiting until her child went to bed, Fairbanks would follow up with a periscope to explain what happened - although it had to be split into two streams because someone signal called her, bypassing do not disturb, and interrupted the call, as acknowledged in the beginning of the 2nd video.\n\n***[The first periscope](https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232502172325203968)*** began, \"*Hi friends, and Feds from various different intelligence agencies. I just wanted to explain that phone call, the context behind it...*\"\n\nShe would then move on to discussing the aforementioned interview Cassandra had conducted with Assange's mother on October 30th, 2018, which gave Mrs. Assange a platform to call for a pardon for her son. Fairbanks then proceeded to explain that at the time that she was in a group chat with ***\"a whole bunch of people from the [Trump] campaign, and other journalists, social media influencers.\"***\n\n>\"**Ambassador Rick Grenell was in it, and Arthur Schwartz, who works with people like Don [Trump] Junior, Rick Grenell, Lee Zeldin I think, he works with a bunch of people. Well connected guy.** And I had always been friendly with him until this point. So, **a little bit after I published this article, I posted it in the DM group hoping that somebody would see it and maybe they would feel bad or be moved to share it with people who can make a difference. It was pretty innocuous, people share  stuff in this group all the time.** They share articles, they share ideas, it just didn't seem like a big deal. \n\n>**So I sent it to the group and about 10 minutes later, I got this** ***insane*** **phone call. And it was Arthur Schwartz and he was completely** *\\*sighs*\\* **erratic**. ***And he was saying that I needed to stop trying, and that a deal had already been made to arrest Julian, that they were going to go into the embassy to get him. And he was saying that people, that I was involved with the Trump kind of social world and that I worked for a pro-Trump outlet and all all this stuff*** and that people had to understand that I had been supporting Wikileaks before I knew that Julian was a \"bad guy\" but that they wouldn't be very understanding when all these bad things came out about him. He was saying that Julian got people killed, that people were tortured. \n\nBy this point she is sounding audibly distressed, with a shaky voice, as recollecting the phone call had clearly brought some fear with it. **But Cassandra is brave, and bravery is not the absence of fear - it is overcoming of fear**. Fairbanks would continue.\n\n>He brought up my child who was 8 at the time, he was talking about somebody who got tortured and he was like, ***\"How would you feel if your daughter got tortured. How old is your daughter? How would you feel about this?\"*** - And I took it as very threatening, the whole thing.\n\nAs Fairbanks reaffirms later in the second video, this perceived threat is why she began recording future calls.\n\n> **He was threatening my reputation - some of it I perceived as even more sinister than that. And so, I was pretty shaken up by it.** ***He was just repeating that a deal had already been made, and that there was nothing I could do, and that even Grenell and Don Jr. had supported Wikileaks before they knew that they got people killed. He claimed that there were photos of people who were killed.*** And as we saw - **the prosecution in the extradition case said that nobody was killed by this,** at least that they know of. The Pentagon also testified during the Manning trial that nobody got killed.\n\n> And so I brought this up, \"***but they said nobody was killed***\" and he was like \"*Well, you know its classified, and everybody's changed their minds now that they know. And you're gonna be a pretty bad guy if you knew that he got American patriots killed and you are still supporting him.\"* And he was saying all these crazy things, right.\n\n>**So, in January I went and visited Julian in the Ecuadorian embassy.  And I told him these things** and we used notes and **we used radio that had the white noise** - like it was tuned to a station that didn't come in so that there would be white noise and **muffle our voices because obviously the whole place was surveilled.** *\\*Takes deep breath*\\*\n\n>And I was just trying to be like, you know, \"***why do these people say this, like why are they saying that you got people killed, like this is crazy***\" and we were just talking about it and that was pretty much that. I said that they told me that they were going to go into the embassy. He had told me it wasn't going to be before Christmas I think, but he didn't give me a real time frame. So that was that...\n\n>The thing is during that phone call he kept warning me, he kept being like \"***What are people going to think of you. How is this going to look.  They would understand if you stop supporting him now***\". **So I took it as him trying to get me to stop writing positive stories about Wikileaks and to stop supporting Julian. And that he was kind of trying to intimidate me out of it and kind of implied that I would be in better graces with the people in the like inner circle if I stopped. Which obviously I didn't do.**\n\n Cassandra (appropriately) [supported Bernie during the 2016 nomination process before understandably endorsing Trump when it came down to Clinton™ V. Trump](https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-37507542). Bernie was the anti-establishment candidate, but with him out of the race, it was clearly Trump.   As she put it, \"Trump's mean words are insignificant compared to Clinton's deadly actions.\" Although she did consider voting for Jill Stein, but decided Stein was to far out there to gather mass appeal.\n\n Not only did Trump have a clean record at the time when it came to warmongering and helping overthrow foreign governments, but he was anti-neoliberal free trade, with an economic platform that would encourage domestic production rather than allowing the continuity of the trend of outsourcing domestic manufacturing...and foreign policy and trade policy was important to her(again, rightfully so). Say what you will about Cassandra, but her choosing Assange over remaining in good graces with the President of the United State's inner circle shows that she is a woman who stands by her convictions. Judging by her actions, truth means more to her than political connections - after all, she is a journalist, not a politician. She would continue\n\n> **I also said that going into a foreign nation's embassy would be an act of war**, and he said that, \"***Not if they let us***\". And **he just kept saying a deal had already been made. And I didn't know at this point that Grenell had made a deal with Ecuador in October, the same month this happened**. So I was just like, \"Why does Arthur know this, what is he talking about\". \n\nShe would explain how she found this weird so she had brought it up to Julian during her visit, naturally. She would explain that roughly two weeks before Julian's arrest, Wikileaks had begun to \"*sound the alarm that they were going to be kicked out, that the government was getting sick of them*\"\n\n>**On March 27th**, I believe, **I visited Julian in the embassy again, but the Ecuadorian government locked me in a room and they wouldn't let Julian come in**. They said **he couldn't come in unless he went through a full body search, and that our meeting had to be in this conference room that was filled with bugs and video cameras. We didn't want to speak in there because he wanted to tell me things privately**. And he wanted to bring that radio in again, to muffle our voices... \n\n>**They wanted to do this full-body search, they didn't want the radio to come in, instead they locked me in a room for almost the entire visit. I got to speak to him for** ***eight*** **minutes because they still kicked me out after the allotted two hours. And it was just a nightmare**. Julian got into a big screaming match with the ambassador, he was saying that he was acting as an agent of the US government. [I wrote about it](https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/10/cia-had-access-to-server-where-spanish-company-kept-profiles-on-julian-assanges-guests-including-doctors-diplomats-lawyers-and-journalists/)...\n\n![Julianscreaming3.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmf274LeLFJqyTPm72gzecKjGNp4GHcxYSPDB7t5gN9sF6/Julianscreaming3.png)\n\n>So when I got back, since Arthur *\\*video distortion* had seen *\\*distortion*\\* whats going on *\\*distortion*\\* to the white house and everything, I messaged him  \"***Do you know why they are doing this to me***\" **because they had never done this any visitor of Julian Assange, ever before this.***  ... **on March 29th, he called me and he told me that** ***he knew I had told Assange***, **and that there was a State department investigation into who leaked me that information**. \n\n> ***I had told Julian this in person***, *\\*nervous laugh*\\* **so obviously people had access to my visit with him, and they were talking about it**. He said he understood why I did it, but that because I told him, I couldn't be trusted. And the call ended - and I thought that was that. But I recorded that call and I will play that right now, and then I will finish this story.\n\nShe proceeds to navigate to her voice recording app on her computer where she recorded the call to show the audience  that the audio was clearly not edited, and proceeds to play it.\n\n**Schwartz**: \"Okay, uh, listen I told you some things that I told you were not to be repeated to anyone, and you repeated it to ***him***, okay? I get that it's emotional for you or whatever, but I can't tell you anything else. I can't trust you. Not that I can't trust you as a person. it's just too emotional for you, so I can't tell you anything. \n\n**Cassandra**: I mean I didn't tell him much , I just told him that *\\*inaudible Cross-talk*\\ the Chelsea stuff* - \n\n**Schwartz**: - I know, I know, I know, but there is like an investigation now with people at State because of that. \n\nCassandra would then pause the video explain how she forgot to mention that Schwartz had told her that \"***They weren't going to go after Julian for the DNC stuff, or for Vault 7, and that it was going to be the Manning release... And I did tell Chelsea that I thought they were going to go after her, and I told Julian in that meeting obviously, what I had heard. Because it was weird.\"*** She would then resume the video:\n\n**Cassandra**: Fuck, I'm sorry.\n\n**Schwartz**: Very good, dear, life-long friends of mine are under a microscope now. So, I can't talk to you about this.\n\n**Cassandra**: Well I'm sorry, I only told him the stuff about - \n\n**Schwartz**: - Listen, I totally get it. I'm not mad, because I think you are doing it, what you did, what you said, whatever it was - you did it with a good heart, and good intentions, so I'll never blame anyone or hold something against them when they do something for the right reasons, but I gotta protect my guys.\n\n**Cassandra**: Yeah I'm sorry\n\n**Schwartz**: No it's okay, I get it, I get it, you were being a good person. You are a good person.\n\nShe then pauses the video to say, \"**I also wanna note that his tone changes ***significantly*** in later calls so I am happy that I recorded this even though he seems nice here.**\"She then resumes the call for the rest of the first video which [can be found here](https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232502172325203968). The stream would get interrupted before the call is finished.\n\nAfter the call was finished in the [2nd video](https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232505658064461824), Cassandra would put it into context:\n\n>Ok so there was that ... it was friendly, like normal, it was much different than the October call and so I was like alright, whatever, didn't think much of it, at the time.\n\n> So, **On April 11th, Julian was arrested. I was really upset, obviously.** ***I again asked Arthur if he knew anything.*** **He responded with a barrage of text messages about how Julian Assange deserves a lethal injection, how both him and Manning should die in prison, how I wasn't  gonna feel bad anymore when all this stuff comes out that he knew which he told me got people killed.**\n\n> And **this is** ***not*** **what the government has said. Either in the trial, or previously, during the Manning trial**. But he just adamantly **kept saying he got people killed, he deserves a lethal injection, all this stuff...** ***completely different to what he was saying before*** when he was like \"*You know I know it's fine he didn't hurt people on purpose\"* and then I had pointed out that, you know what I'll just keep going *\\*glancing at her notes*\\*\n\nShe presumably was going to say she pointed out that there was no evidence what so ever of Wikileaks causing harm from the Manning release, as admitted by the Pentagon.\n\n![AssangepentagonManningtrialIdonthavespecificevidenceofharm.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfVhQQWvPpqkRyGnkLBxbLAYmGcjFuXaMsYBQ6CHzagwk/AssangepentagonManningtrialIdonthavespecificevidenceofharm.png)\n\n > So soon after that, ABC news reported that Grenell had been involved in the deal to arrest Julian. \n\nContinuing bravely with a shakey voice, she would describe how she put the puzzle pieces together:\n\n> **Back in October ...  I got the first call from the person who works for Grenell [Schwartz]...I saw... a line way down in this ABC article, and nobody had really mentioned it.** I was like, \"***Isn't that some shit***\", because he called me in October and told me all this stuff, and **it turns out it was fucking Grenell** - who was in the group chat and who Arthur [Schwartz] works for - **who made the deal in the first place**.\n\n>So obviously like this makes sense now. So I sent a screenshot of the report to Arthur and I was like, ***\"Is this how you knew everything that you told me\"*** **and he sent like a shrug emoji. Then he sent me another barrage of messages about how Julian deserves the death penalty, how everyone involved with Wikileaks deserves the death penalty.**\n\n>I noted that the article said that ***Grenell only got a verbal agreement that there wouldn't be a death penalty***, because **the UN has been warning that the US might be doing a \"bait and switch\" and tell him that he's not going to get the death penalty, and then add more charges when they have him here.** ***And Arthur sent another shrug emoji and just continued ranting about how Julian deserves the death penalty.***\n\n>So **at this point, I am boggled as to why the German ambassador is even involved in the first place in making a negotiation between Ecuador and the US and the UK. And So I tweeted** it, I was like \"***why is the German ambassador involved in this deal it doesn't make any sense\"***. **Grenell then contacted my employer and asked them to take it down and was being weird about it. And I didn't, I refused to take it down.**  \n\n> So fast forward to September 10th, President Trump announced he had fired his national security adviser, John Bolton. I was  celebrating ... **But then, Grenell's name was being floated everywhere to take over the position, including by people who supported Wikileaks**...and I was like \"***what the fuck guys, NO***\". And so I tweeted again that Grenell was involved in Julian Assange's arrest and that like [he] kind of went after my job for tweeting about it even though it was publicly reported about by ABC news and I just happened to highlight it a little bit more.\n\n>So within hours, I get another phone call from Arthur, which is the one you guys have heard, this time he was frantic, he was ranting and raving about how he could go to jail, how I was tweeting classified information, and he said that **Grenell was acting under direct orders of president Trump to secure a deal to arrest Assange.** ***Now whether that means he gave them an IMF loan - which is what alot of people think*** - or he had just promised the death penalty would be off the table, I don't know. But I do know that after the audio and my timeline leaked to politico, **she [Politico's Bertrand] reached out to the ODNI [Office of the Director of National Intelligence] and within minutes, Arthur had already heard about it and was threatening to sue me.** ***She hadn't even reached out to Arthur yet, so obviously he is getting information and it seems to always be correct.***\n\nShe would go on to play the initial recording, straight from the voice recorder in front of the phone camera to prove that it wasn't doctored as well, as people were accusing her of editing it. But before doing doing so she would say\n\n> I just want to also note that people are saying I cooked up this scheme with Julian but I haven't talked to Julian since he went to prison. I wrote him a letter but I don't think he even got it because the prison told me I could include international postage stamps so he could write back, but then I later found out that you can't include stamps. So I don't even think he got my letters... and they wern't about Grenell or anything.... This was an unsolicited phone call I couldn't have possible have orchestrated. **The only reason I was recording him is because that phone call in October was threatening.**\n\n*\\*Voice starts to shake*\\*\n\n###  \"***If you are going to bring up my daughter in the same sentence as torture, I am gonna record your calls from then on.***\"\n\nShe would then play the initial call with Schwartz begging for his life, which was transcribed first in this article.\n\n>As you can see the date on there is Sept. 10th, Julian was in prison I had not talked to him and ***he called me***. All I had done was tweeted out was like \"***Don't make this guy in charge of the NSA because he worked out the deal to arrest Assange***\" and I was offended that my friends were supporting him. So, **that's all I did...I could not have possible orchestrated this**. Um, yeah, so I guess that's all...**Sorry that the stream got chopped in half, I'm pretty sure that was on purpose because it was someone who had been saying that they were gonna release them[the phone call's and screenshots] even though I asked him not to**..so that's all.. Bye.\n\n---\n\n**Craig Murray**, *a human rights activist as well as a historian and former British ambassador who acquired one of the 16 seats open to members of the public in Julian's case*, **has been [blogging about the extradition case](https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/)**. On the first day, he would report that \n\n>***International jurisprudence had [accepted for a century or more that you did not extradite political offenders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_offence_exception#United_States)***. **No political extradition was in the European Convention on Extradition, the Model United Nations Extradition Treaty and the Interpol Convention on Extradition. It was in every single one of the United States’ extradition treaties with other countries, and had been for over a century,** ***at the insistence of the United States***. **For both the UK and US Governments to say it did not apply was astonishing and would set a terrible precedent that would endanger dissidents and potential political prisoners from China, Russia and regimes all over the world** who had escaped to third countries.\n\n> **Fitzgerald stated that all major authorities agreed there were two types of political offence**. ***The pure political offence and the relative political offence*** ...  **The overriding accusation that Assange was seeking to harm the political and military interests of the United States was in the very definition of a political offence in all the authorities.**\n\nAmerica needs to realize that **our democratic process relies on the Freedom of Press** - ***Citizens cannot make informed decisions in the polling booth if the state gets to decide what media is allowed to print and publish about the government***. **Assange's extradition case is a giant leap towards an unopposed state-run media, in which information that makes the ruling regime look bad is not allowed to be published, a system where voters not allowed to be informed.** \n\n***Wouldn't you like to know if your taxes were funding war-crimes and regime-change operations motivated by corporate interests?*** Cognitive dissonance is the only reason one could desire to be shielded from the reality of this. But **Democracy can not afford forced cognitive dissonance. Truth can not afford the government's allowed interpretation of it**, it cannot afford censorship. **Democracy cannot survive without truth. Democracy cannot survive without political dissidents.** \n### Cassandra's recordings may very well save Assange's life, and even our very democracy.\n\n\n![Unity4J.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNqrXPoLarGYjekrk4BRfnNf7WrnSZfC1Wktmk7t5Patz/Unity4J.jpg)\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I often trip on how <a \nhref=\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CassandraRules</a> is this cute, fragile-looking Bambi-eyed insomniac whose voice sounds like she&#39;s on the verge of tears and all the lefties scorn, but she routinely launches these massive, hydrogen bomb haymakers right at the jaw of the empire like no one else. <a href=\"https://t.co/4ATbxkTU4I\">https://t.co/4ATbxkTU4I</a></p> Caitlin Johnstone ⏳ (@caitoz) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/caitoz/status/1232460737890504705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 26, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n\n![MadeabenjaminandFairbanks.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc1uGS72GiFV122jVVGeqRn6Vv8V1p8kVjxeYAvsGyFWu/MadeabenjaminandFairbanks.jpg)\n\n\nDISCLOSURE NOTE: This reporter worked with Cassandra Fairbanks at @WeAreChange in 2016, she was my former editor.\n\n*To support my work:*\n*Eth — 0xB0B06D55C2fb4BBf4AA9B86F772807346ff7F181*\n*BTC — bc1qu5jkdcnpj0sng73tqd9x5yrdh6yax8j04ve9l0*",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"wikileaks\",\"unity4j\",\"news\",\"politics\",\"liberty\",\"government\",\"trump\"],\"users\":[\"suzi3d\",\"cassandrarules\",\"caitoz\",\"wearechange\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmartgUbHwrR7T57oF8c84YKTuS6ANDNannr6zgdt3Uonw/CassandrastandsuptoTrump.jfif\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmf274LeLFJqyTPm72gzecKjGNp4GHcxYSPDB7t5gN9sF6/Julianscreaming3.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfVhQQWvPpqkRyGnkLBxbLAYmGcjFuXaMsYBQ6CHzagwk/AssangepentagonManningtrialIdonthavespecificevidenceofharm.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNqrXPoLarGYjekrk4BRfnNf7WrnSZfC1Wktmk7t5Patz/Unity4J.jpg\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc1uGS72GiFV122jVVGeqRn6Vv8V1p8kVjxeYAvsGyFWu/MadeabenjaminandFairbanks.jpg\"],\"links\":[\"https://twitter.com/TweetBrettMac/status/1232445416089632768\",\"https://protectsuzie.com/\",\"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meet-suzie-dawson-the-nz-journalist-seeking-asylum_b_58ae200de4b0d0d07e7c6713\",\"https://youtu.be/RIDM9IMliwE\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/7u6s91ryJe\",\"https://twitter.com/Suzi3D/status/1232451598187556864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/24/assange-grenell-intelligence-117244\",\"https://twitter.com/cassandrarules\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232443690540421121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.newser.com/story/287214/one-word-being-used-to-describe-new-intel-chief.html\",\"https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8022573/Donald-Trump-makes-Rick-Grenell-director-national-intelligence-gay-cabinet-secretary.html\",\"https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-gave-verbal-pledge-death-penalty-assange-sources/story?id=62414643\",\"https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-trump-jrs-fixer-wages-war-against-the-media\",\"https://www.rt.com/news/481690-assange-arrest-grenell-trump-order/\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232439425629483009\",\"https://twitter.com/BGHeaven/status/1232469084542910464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/TzrZjV4yNJ\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232477330787819520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/vMAT5cCmmm\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232496717632720898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/10/mother-of-julian-assange-president-trump-could-send-a-clear-message-to-the-swamp-by-preemptively-pardoning-my-son/\",\"https://t.co/oYJQeAdZ6L\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1131976303354290176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232502172325203968\",\"https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-37507542\",\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/10/cia-had-access-to-server-where-spanish-company-kept-profiles-on-julian-assanges-guests-including-doctors-diplomats-lawyers-and-journalists/\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232505658064461824\",\"https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_offence_exception#United_States\",\"https://t.co/4ATbxkTU4I\",\"https://twitter.com/caitoz/status/1232460737890504705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "af905ad43c6b6b123db2fb13e98e1989d414c200",
  "block": 41210790,
  "trx_in_block": 27,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-02-28T09:38:21",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "assange",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-cassandra-fairbanks-exposed-trump-s-political-persecution-of-assange-in-extradition-case",
      "title": "How Cassandra Fairbanks Exposed Trump's Political Persecution of Assange in Extradition Case",
      "body": "@@ -33640,12 +33640,253 @@\n irbanks.jpg)\n+%0A%0A%0ADISCLOSURE NOTE: This reporter worked with Cassandra Fairbanks at @WeAreChange in 2016, she was my former editor.%0A%0A*To support my work:*%0A*Eth %E2%80%94 0xB0B06D55C2fb4BBf4AA9B86F772807346ff7F181*%0A*BTC %E2%80%94 bc1qu5jkdcnpj0sng73tqd9x5yrdh6yax8j04ve9l0*\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"wikileaks\",\"unity4j\",\"news\",\"politics\",\"liberty\",\"government\",\"trump\"],\"users\":[\"suzi3d\",\"cassandrarules\",\"caitoz\",\"wearechange\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmartgUbHwrR7T57oF8c84YKTuS6ANDNannr6zgdt3Uonw/CassandrastandsuptoTrump.jfif\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmf274LeLFJqyTPm72gzecKjGNp4GHcxYSPDB7t5gN9sF6/Julianscreaming3.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfVhQQWvPpqkRyGnkLBxbLAYmGcjFuXaMsYBQ6CHzagwk/AssangepentagonManningtrialIdonthavespecificevidenceofharm.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNqrXPoLarGYjekrk4BRfnNf7WrnSZfC1Wktmk7t5Patz/Unity4J.jpg\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc1uGS72GiFV122jVVGeqRn6Vv8V1p8kVjxeYAvsGyFWu/MadeabenjaminandFairbanks.jpg\"],\"links\":[\"https://twitter.com/TweetBrettMac/status/1232445416089632768\",\"https://protectsuzie.com/\",\"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meet-suzie-dawson-the-nz-journalist-seeking-asylum_b_58ae200de4b0d0d07e7c6713\",\"https://youtu.be/RIDM9IMliwE\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/7u6s91ryJe\",\"https://twitter.com/Suzi3D/status/1232451598187556864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/24/assange-grenell-intelligence-117244\",\"https://twitter.com/cassandrarules\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232443690540421121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.newser.com/story/287214/one-word-being-used-to-describe-new-intel-chief.html\",\"https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8022573/Donald-Trump-makes-Rick-Grenell-director-national-intelligence-gay-cabinet-secretary.html\",\"https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-gave-verbal-pledge-death-penalty-assange-sources/story?id=62414643\",\"https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-trump-jrs-fixer-wages-war-against-the-media\",\"https://www.rt.com/news/481690-assange-arrest-grenell-trump-order/\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232439425629483009\",\"https://twitter.com/BGHeaven/status/1232469084542910464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/TzrZjV4yNJ\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232477330787819520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/vMAT5cCmmm\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232496717632720898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/10/mother-of-julian-assange-president-trump-could-send-a-clear-message-to-the-swamp-by-preemptively-pardoning-my-son/\",\"https://t.co/oYJQeAdZ6L\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1131976303354290176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232502172325203968\",\"https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-37507542\",\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/10/cia-had-access-to-server-where-spanish-company-kept-profiles-on-julian-assanges-guests-including-doctors-diplomats-lawyers-and-journalists/\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232505658064461824\",\"https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_offence_exception#United_States\",\"https://t.co/4ATbxkTU4I\",\"https://twitter.com/caitoz/status/1232460737890504705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "878010e05a8b90505ce1b79f2f57c75a0b23e9d4",
  "block": 41210556,
  "trx_in_block": 4,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-02-28T09:26:36",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "mitchellmcguire",
      "author": "an0nkn0wledge",
      "permlink": "cassandra-fairbanks-breaks-several-new-leads-in-the-seth-rich-case",
      "weight": 10000
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "be32fffab3c009745978298215266245a81ae24a",
  "block": 41210521,
  "trx_in_block": 16,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-02-28T09:24:51",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "impeachthis",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-cassandra-fairbanks-exposed-trump-s-political-persecution-of-assange-in-extradition-case",
      "weight": 200
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "8849aa8e72152028dbc0654aee52497340ff47db",
  "block": 41210520,
  "trx_in_block": 3,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-02-28T09:24:48",
  "op": [
    "vote",
    {
      "voter": "neal.point",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-cassandra-fairbanks-exposed-trump-s-political-persecution-of-assange-in-extradition-case",
      "weight": 200
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "a9d22d3f2f639fc6d683bab3908c2cc77e141468",
  "block": 41210517,
  "trx_in_block": 3,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-02-28T09:24:39",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "assange",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-cassandra-fairbanks-exposed-trump-s-political-persecution-of-assange-in-extradition-case",
      "title": "How Cassandra Fairbanks Exposed Trump's Political Persecution of Assange in Extradition Case",
      "body": "**The hell raising shit-storm Cassandra Fairbanks unleashed on the Empire made its way into the public eye when the ardent Assange supporter tweeted out an audio transcription** captioned \"The phone call\" on Feb. 25th, **essentially proving that Trump has personally ordered Grenell, who was then the US ambassador to Germany, to make a deal with Ecuador so that Assange could be taken from the Embassy with their permission.** [Brett McDonald would describe the phone call as](https://twitter.com/TweetBrettMac/status/1232445416089632768) \"***Arthur Schwartz begging for his life...***\" \n\n**[ A targeted citizen journalist](https://protectsuzie.com/) who [is seeking asylum](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meet-suzie-dawson-the-nz-journalist-seeking-asylum_b_58ae200de4b0d0d07e7c6713) after [exposing corruption within the intelligence community](https://youtu.be/RIDM9IMliwE)**, ***Suzie Dawson***, who helped cofound #Unity4J, highlighted the importance of this event, tweeting out:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I&#39;ve been biting my tongue on this so long but I can&#39;t hold back any longer.<a href=\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CassandraRules</a> is a brave woman, a good journo, and she may well be what saves Julian Assange&#39;s life. <br><br>This means a LOT of people are going to be eating a slice of humble pie.<a href=\"https://t.co/7u6s91ryJe\">https://t.co/7u6s91ryJe</a></p> Suzie Dawson (@Suzi3D) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Suzi3D/status/1232451598187556864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 25, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nBefore getting into the phone call, some important contextual background information should be given so the reader does not have to reverse engineer the happening.\n\n**The day before Cassandra uploaded the phone call's audio to twitter, Politico had published an article** that read, **\"[Assange fight draws in Trump's new intel chief](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/24/assange-grenell-intelligence-117244)\"** with the subtitle reading ***\"Lawyers for the WikiLeaks founder plan to use newly obtained recordings and screenshots to argue that Assange's prosecution is political in nature\"***.\n\nThese recordings and screenshots mentioned belong to [Cassandra Fairbanks](https://twitter.com/cassandrarules) who had not publicly released them at the time. **Cassandra had distributed the materials with some people \"[in case anything happened to](https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232443690540421121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)\" her**, including Property of the People, who then leaked them to Politico. Politico would report:\n\n>**Attorneys for Julian Assange ... plan to introduce evidence in the WikiLeaks founder’s extradition hearing involving President Donald Trump’s new intel chief** ***Richard Grenell.***\n\n>Gareth Peirce, a lawyer representing Assange in his extradition proceedings in London, plans to argue this week that the process to try to extradite her client was abused from early on. **Representatives for Assange’s defense team say they expect to introduce recordings and screenshots of communications of a close Grenell associate [Arthur Schwartz], including a secondhand claim that Grenell was acting on the president’s orders.**\n\nPolitico would acknowledge that \"*Grenell’s sudden embroilment in Assange’s extradition fight comes at an inconvenient time\"* as [Grenell](https://www.newser.com/story/287214/one-word-being-used-to-describe-new-intel-chief.html), one of [Trump's closest \"loyalists\"](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8022573/Donald-Trump-makes-Rick-Grenell-director-national-intelligence-gay-cabinet-secretary.html), has faced much partisan criticism over his recent appointment by Trump as the acting director of national intelligence.\n\nPolitco's article would also note that revelations from Cassandra's phone call \"***threatens to spotlight his close relationship with President Trump, feeding the widespread perception that the president is politicizing intelligence work for partisan ends.***\"\n\n> **At the heart of the Assange team’s argument is an ABC News report from last April alleging that,** while serving as Trump’s ambassador to Germany, ***Grenell told Assange’s Ecuadorean hosts that the U.S. government would not pursue the death penalty for Assange if Ecuador allowed British officials to enter its embassy in London and arrest him.***\n\nThis [ABC news report](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-gave-verbal-pledge-death-penalty-assange-sources/story?id=62414643) is the subject of the phone call between Cassandra and Schwart'z  phone call, which took place in September of 2019. [Schwartz, a \"fixer\" for Donald Jr.](https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-trump-jrs-fixer-wages-war-against-the-media) ,  called Cassandra over a [deleted tweet from September 10th](https://www.rt.com/news/481690-assange-arrest-grenell-trump-order/) , because Cassandra had tweeted information from that ABC news report. The information she propagated was the fact that ***Richard Grenell***, who was serving as a US ambassador to Germany at the time, “***was the one who worked out the deal for Julian Assange’s arrest.***”\n\n>**Assange’s legal team will claim that Grenell’s role was more extensive than previously known, and that it corrupted the extradition process early on. The suggestion will be that the U.S. was so desperate to get Assange in its custody that American officials, via Grenell, agreed in advance to take a particular sentence off the table before even allowing a trial and sentencing to play out.**\n\n>***The WikiLeaks founder’s attorneys are also expected to present evidence that they believe shows Trump explicitly tasked Grenell with making the offer, thereby politicizing the process***. One of Assange’s lawyers, Edward **Fitzgerald, hinted at this argument in his opening statement on Monday, when he said that Assange’s prosecution was** “***not motivated by genuine concerns for criminal justice but politics.***\n\nThese remarks are relying on information from the leaked calls and screenshots by Cassandra. Being that Fairbanks had content from her recordings and screenshots already published by Politico, she would tweet the Politico-featured phone call's audio to the public  which was followed with a tweet that would read:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I shared the calls (there’s more than this one) and timeline of events with some people in case anything happened to me because he was so frantic. They have been sharing it all over the place and leaking it against my requests. So, figured I’ll do it myself.</p> Cassandra Fairbanks 🕊⏳ (@CassandraRules) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232443690540421121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 25, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\nAlthough the written word cannot give justice to the inflection and tones of voice heard in [the audio](https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232439425629483009), and listening to the audio on her twitteris advised, here is a rough transcript of the phone call: \n---\n\n**Schwartz**: You're posting classified information on twitter. You cant do that.\n\n**Cassandra**: What- I'm not posting classified information.\n\n**Schwartz**: *\\*incoherent stumbling over words*\\* Yeah, that's classified, you can't do that.\n\n**Cassandra**: ABC News already reported it, that's where I saw it.\n\n**Schwartz**: Yeah, but, yeah but that is wrong. You are - You are posting things that are classified *\\*inaudible*\\* things that have not been reported.\n\n**Cassandra**: That was reported by ABC news.\n\n**Schwartz** *\\*Angrily*\\* : Yeah, I know what was reported, I see what you are tweeting. What you are tweeting is not what was reported. ***Someone is going to go to jail***. You need to stop this. \n\n**Cassandra**: Yeah, ***Julian is in jail right now, because of this.***.. Well, I mean, I'll delete my tweet only because you are saying you will get in trouble - \n\n**Schwartz interrupts**: - ***I don't want to go to jail. Please. I'm begging you.*** -\n\n**Cassandra**: All right, I will delete it, I was just referring to the ABC news report \n\n**Schwartz**: Okay, but like, they look at you, they see that we speak, like that's bad. \n\n**Cassandra**: I mean the reason I - \n\n### **Schwartz**(*aggressively*) : - **He is taking orders from the President**\nOkay? So you are gonna punish me because he took orders from the president? -\n\n**Cassandra**: I wasn't punishing you, I was tweeting from an ABC news report.\n\n**Schwartz**:  Ok.\n\n**Cassandra**: Remember, ***I called you*** about it.\n\n**Schwartz**: I am begging you, I am begging you, please.\n\n**Cassandra**: Alright. I will delete the tweets.\n\n**Schwartz**: Thank you .\n\n**\\*Line disconnects\\***\n\n---\n\nOne of the [event's spectators would ask Cassandra to clarify](https://twitter.com/BGHeaven/status/1232469084542910464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), \n>So he leaked classified info to you.  Freaked out because you tweeted about an ABC report in which he thought was the classified info he had leaked to you?\n\n>Do I have that straight?\n\nTo which she would reply:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">He told me a deal was made to arrest Assange in October 2018. I just put the pieces together — which is what made him freak out. <a href=\"https://t.co/TzrZjV4yNJ\">https://t.co/TzrZjV4yNJ</a></p> Cassandra Fairbanks 🕊⏳ (@CassandraRules) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232477330787819520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 26, 2020</a></blockquote>\n\nShe would also tweet:\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It all started because of this interview I did with Julian’s mother.<a href=\"https://t.co/vMAT5cCmmm\">https://t.co/vMAT5cCmmm</a></p> Cassandra Fairbanks 🕊⏳ (@CassandraRules) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232496717632720898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 26, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n**[Her interview with Mrs. Assange](https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/10/mother-of-julian-assange-president-trump-could-send-a-clear-message-to-the-swamp-by-preemptively-pardoning-my-son/)** from the eve of Halloween of 2018 that she is referring to would have Mrs. Assange pleading Trump to follow through on his promise to \"drain the swamp\", urging the president to issue a preemptive pardon. Julian's mother would be quoted to say:\n\n>“Both [Assange and Trump] have been ruthlessly smeared and attacked by deep state players in the intelligence agencies, media and entertainment industry. I believe that if President Trump was to give Julian a preemptive pardon and save his life from the brutal political persecution and torture that he has endured for years at the hands of corrupt deep state ‘swamp’ elites, it would send a clear message to all that he is man of his word, a courageous leader who stands up for the American Constitution — a man worthy of the office of President.”\n\nThe implication Cassandra was making when she said it began with that interview was that **when Fairbanks had started to hold Trump accountable to his  rhetoric, expecting him to follow through on his promises to \"drain the swamp\" and help fight \"the deep state\" after supporting him as the anti-establishment candidate, she began to be a thorn in the Trump administration**. ***God forbid someone expect the president to follow through on the anti-establishment platform they campaigned on.***\n\nMonths after her interview with MRs. Assange, she would take shots at Trump in a tweet with a Pro-Assange graphic that read:\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Free Julian Assange. He’s spent his life fighting the same deep state you claim to stand against (but keep hiring) <a href=\"https://t.co/oYJQeAdZ6L\">pic.twitter.com/oYJQeAdZ6L</a></p> Cassandra Fairbanks 🕊⏳ (@CassandraRules) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1131976303354290176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 24, 2019</a></blockquote> \n\n![CassandrastandsuptoTrump.jfif](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmartgUbHwrR7T57oF8c84YKTuS6ANDNannr6zgdt3Uonw/CassandrastandsuptoTrump.jfif)\n\nWaiting until her child went to bed, Fairbanks would follow up with a periscope to explain what happened - although it had to be split into two streams because someone signal called her, bypassing do not disturb, and interrupted the call, as acknowledged in the beginning of the 2nd video.\n\n***[The first periscope](https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232502172325203968)*** began, \"*Hi friends, and Feds from various different intelligence agencies. I just wanted to explain that phone call, the context behind it...*\"\n\nShe would then move on to discussing the aforementioned interview Cassandra had conducted with Assange's mother on October 30th, 2018, which gave Mrs. Assange a platform to call for a pardon for her son. Fairbanks then proceeded to explain that at the time that she was in a group chat with ***\"a whole bunch of people from the [Trump] campaign, and other journalists, social media influencers.\"***\n\n>\"**Ambassador Rick Grenell was in it, and Arthur Schwartz, who works with people like Don [Trump] Junior, Rick Grenell, Lee Zeldin I think, he works with a bunch of people. Well connected guy.** And I had always been friendly with him until this point. So, **a little bit after I published this article, I posted it in the DM group hoping that somebody would see it and maybe they would feel bad or be moved to share it with people who can make a difference. It was pretty innocuous, people share  stuff in this group all the time.** They share articles, they share ideas, it just didn't seem like a big deal. \n\n>**So I sent it to the group and about 10 minutes later, I got this** ***insane*** **phone call. And it was Arthur Schwartz and he was completely** *\\*sighs*\\* **erratic**. ***And he was saying that I needed to stop trying, and that a deal had already been made to arrest Julian, that they were going to go into the embassy to get him. And he was saying that people, that I was involved with the Trump kind of social world and that I worked for a pro-Trump outlet and all all this stuff*** and that people had to understand that I had been supporting Wikileaks before I knew that Julian was a \"bad guy\" but that they wouldn't be very understanding when all these bad things came out about him. He was saying that Julian got people killed, that people were tortured. \n\nBy this point she is sounding audibly distressed, with a shaky voice, as recollecting the phone call had clearly brought some fear with it. **But Cassandra is brave, and bravery is not the absence of fear - it is overcoming of fear**. Fairbanks would continue.\n\n>He brought up my child who was 8 at the time, he was talking about somebody who got tortured and he was like, ***\"How would you feel if your daughter got tortured. How old is your daughter? How would you feel about this?\"*** - And I took it as very threatening, the whole thing.\n\nAs Fairbanks reaffirms later in the second video, this perceived threat is why she began recording future calls.\n\n> **He was threatening my reputation - some of it I perceived as even more sinister than that. And so, I was pretty shaken up by it.** ***He was just repeating that a deal had already been made, and that there was nothing I could do, and that even Grenell and Don Jr. had supported Wikileaks before they knew that they got people killed. He claimed that there were photos of people who were killed.*** And as we saw - **the prosecution in the extradition case said that nobody was killed by this,** at least that they know of. The Pentagon also testified during the Manning trial that nobody got killed.\n\n> And so I brought this up, \"***but they said nobody was killed***\" and he was like \"*Well, you know its classified, and everybody's changed their minds now that they know. And you're gonna be a pretty bad guy if you knew that he got American patriots killed and you are still supporting him.\"* And he was saying all these crazy things, right.\n\n>**So, in January I went and visited Julian in the Ecuadorian embassy.  And I told him these things** and we used notes and **we used radio that had the white noise** - like it was tuned to a station that didn't come in so that there would be white noise and **muffle our voices because obviously the whole place was surveilled.** *\\*Takes deep breath*\\*\n\n>And I was just trying to be like, you know, \"***why do these people say this, like why are they saying that you got people killed, like this is crazy***\" and we were just talking about it and that was pretty much that. I said that they told me that they were going to go into the embassy. He had told me it wasn't going to be before Christmas I think, but he didn't give me a real time frame. So that was that...\n\n>The thing is during that phone call he kept warning me, he kept being like \"***What are people going to think of you. How is this going to look.  They would understand if you stop supporting him now***\". **So I took it as him trying to get me to stop writing positive stories about Wikileaks and to stop supporting Julian. And that he was kind of trying to intimidate me out of it and kind of implied that I would be in better graces with the people in the like inner circle if I stopped. Which obviously I didn't do.**\n\n Cassandra (appropriately) [supported Bernie during the 2016 nomination process before understandably endorsing Trump when it came down to Clinton™ V. Trump](https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-37507542). Bernie was the anti-establishment candidate, but with him out of the race, it was clearly Trump.   As she put it, \"Trump's mean words are insignificant compared to Clinton's deadly actions.\" Although she did consider voting for Jill Stein, but decided Stein was to far out there to gather mass appeal.\n\n Not only did Trump have a clean record at the time when it came to warmongering and helping overthrow foreign governments, but he was anti-neoliberal free trade, with an economic platform that would encourage domestic production rather than allowing the continuity of the trend of outsourcing domestic manufacturing...and foreign policy and trade policy was important to her(again, rightfully so). Say what you will about Cassandra, but her choosing Assange over remaining in good graces with the President of the United State's inner circle shows that she is a woman who stands by her convictions. Judging by her actions, truth means more to her than political connections - after all, she is a journalist, not a politician. She would continue\n\n> **I also said that going into a foreign nation's embassy would be an act of war**, and he said that, \"***Not if they let us***\". And **he just kept saying a deal had already been made. And I didn't know at this point that Grenell had made a deal with Ecuador in October, the same month this happened**. So I was just like, \"Why does Arthur know this, what is he talking about\". \n\nShe would explain how she found this weird so she had brought it up to Julian during her visit, naturally. She would explain that roughly two weeks before Julian's arrest, Wikileaks had begun to \"*sound the alarm that they were going to be kicked out, that the government was getting sick of them*\"\n\n>**On March 27th**, I believe, **I visited Julian in the embassy again, but the Ecuadorian government locked me in a room and they wouldn't let Julian come in**. They said **he couldn't come in unless he went through a full body search, and that our meeting had to be in this conference room that was filled with bugs and video cameras. We didn't want to speak in there because he wanted to tell me things privately**. And he wanted to bring that radio in again, to muffle our voices... \n\n>**They wanted to do this full-body search, they didn't want the radio to come in, instead they locked me in a room for almost the entire visit. I got to speak to him for** ***eight*** **minutes because they still kicked me out after the allotted two hours. And it was just a nightmare**. Julian got into a big screaming match with the ambassador, he was saying that he was acting as an agent of the US government. [I wrote about it](https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/10/cia-had-access-to-server-where-spanish-company-kept-profiles-on-julian-assanges-guests-including-doctors-diplomats-lawyers-and-journalists/)...\n\n![Julianscreaming3.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmf274LeLFJqyTPm72gzecKjGNp4GHcxYSPDB7t5gN9sF6/Julianscreaming3.png)\n\n>So when I got back, since Arthur *\\*video distortion* had seen *\\*distortion*\\* whats going on *\\*distortion*\\* to the white house and everything, I messaged him  \"***Do you know why they are doing this to me***\" **because they had never done this any visitor of Julian Assange, ever before this.***  ... **on March 29th, he called me and he told me that** ***he knew I had told Assange***, **and that there was a State department investigation into who leaked me that information**. \n\n> ***I had told Julian this in person***, *\\*nervous laugh*\\* **so obviously people had access to my visit with him, and they were talking about it**. He said he understood why I did it, but that because I told him, I couldn't be trusted. And the call ended - and I thought that was that. But I recorded that call and I will play that right now, and then I will finish this story.\n\nShe proceeds to navigate to her voice recording app on her computer where she recorded the call to show the audience  that the audio was clearly not edited, and proceeds to play it.\n\n**Schwartz**: \"Okay, uh, listen I told you some things that I told you were not to be repeated to anyone, and you repeated it to ***him***, okay? I get that it's emotional for you or whatever, but I can't tell you anything else. I can't trust you. Not that I can't trust you as a person. it's just too emotional for you, so I can't tell you anything. \n\n**Cassandra**: I mean I didn't tell him much , I just told him that *\\*inaudible Cross-talk*\\ the Chelsea stuff* - \n\n**Schwartz**: - I know, I know, I know, but there is like an investigation now with people at State because of that. \n\nCassandra would then pause the video explain how she forgot to mention that Schwartz had told her that \"***They weren't going to go after Julian for the DNC stuff, or for Vault 7, and that it was going to be the Manning release... And I did tell Chelsea that I thought they were going to go after her, and I told Julian in that meeting obviously, what I had heard. Because it was weird.\"*** She would then resume the video:\n\n**Cassandra**: Fuck, I'm sorry.\n\n**Schwartz**: Very good, dear, life-long friends of mine are under a microscope now. So, I can't talk to you about this.\n\n**Cassandra**: Well I'm sorry, I only told him the stuff about - \n\n**Schwartz**: - Listen, I totally get it. I'm not mad, because I think you are doing it, what you did, what you said, whatever it was - you did it with a good heart, and good intentions, so I'll never blame anyone or hold something against them when they do something for the right reasons, but I gotta protect my guys.\n\n**Cassandra**: Yeah I'm sorry\n\n**Schwartz**: No it's okay, I get it, I get it, you were being a good person. You are a good person.\n\nShe then pauses the video to say, \"**I also wanna note that his tone changes ***significantly*** in later calls so I am happy that I recorded this even though he seems nice here.**\"She then resumes the call for the rest of the first video which [can be found here](https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232502172325203968). The stream would get interrupted before the call is finished.\n\nAfter the call was finished in the [2nd video](https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232505658064461824), Cassandra would put it into context:\n\n>Ok so there was that ... it was friendly, like normal, it was much different than the October call and so I was like alright, whatever, didn't think much of it, at the time.\n\n> So, **On April 11th, Julian was arrested. I was really upset, obviously.** ***I again asked Arthur if he knew anything.*** **He responded with a barrage of text messages about how Julian Assange deserves a lethal injection, how both him and Manning should die in prison, how I wasn't  gonna feel bad anymore when all this stuff comes out that he knew which he told me got people killed.**\n\n> And **this is** ***not*** **what the government has said. Either in the trial, or previously, during the Manning trial**. But he just adamantly **kept saying he got people killed, he deserves a lethal injection, all this stuff...** ***completely different to what he was saying before*** when he was like \"*You know I know it's fine he didn't hurt people on purpose\"* and then I had pointed out that, you know what I'll just keep going *\\*glancing at her notes*\\*\n\nShe presumably was going to say she pointed out that there was no evidence what so ever of Wikileaks causing harm from the Manning release, as admitted by the Pentagon.\n\n![AssangepentagonManningtrialIdonthavespecificevidenceofharm.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfVhQQWvPpqkRyGnkLBxbLAYmGcjFuXaMsYBQ6CHzagwk/AssangepentagonManningtrialIdonthavespecificevidenceofharm.png)\n\n > So soon after that, ABC news reported that Grenell had been involved in the deal to arrest Julian. \n\nContinuing bravely with a shakey voice, she would describe how she put the puzzle pieces together:\n\n> **Back in October ...  I got the first call from the person who works for Grenell [Schwartz]...I saw... a line way down in this ABC article, and nobody had really mentioned it.** I was like, \"***Isn't that some shit***\", because he called me in October and told me all this stuff, and **it turns out it was fucking Grenell** - who was in the group chat and who Arthur [Schwartz] works for - **who made the deal in the first place**.\n\n>So obviously like this makes sense now. So I sent a screenshot of the report to Arthur and I was like, ***\"Is this how you knew everything that you told me\"*** **and he sent like a shrug emoji. Then he sent me another barrage of messages about how Julian deserves the death penalty, how everyone involved with Wikileaks deserves the death penalty.**\n\n>I noted that the article said that ***Grenell only got a verbal agreement that there wouldn't be a death penalty***, because **the UN has been warning that the US might be doing a \"bait and switch\" and tell him that he's not going to get the death penalty, and then add more charges when they have him here.** ***And Arthur sent another shrug emoji and just continued ranting about how Julian deserves the death penalty.***\n\n>So **at this point, I am boggled as to why the German ambassador is even involved in the first place in making a negotiation between Ecuador and the US and the UK. And So I tweeted** it, I was like \"***why is the German ambassador involved in this deal it doesn't make any sense\"***. **Grenell then contacted my employer and asked them to take it down and was being weird about it. And I didn't, I refused to take it down.**  \n\n> So fast forward to September 10th, President Trump announced he had fired his national security adviser, John Bolton. I was  celebrating ... **But then, Grenell's name was being floated everywhere to take over the position, including by people who supported Wikileaks**...and I was like \"***what the fuck guys, NO***\". And so I tweeted again that Grenell was involved in Julian Assange's arrest and that like [he] kind of went after my job for tweeting about it even though it was publicly reported about by ABC news and I just happened to highlight it a little bit more.\n\n>So within hours, I get another phone call from Arthur, which is the one you guys have heard, this time he was frantic, he was ranting and raving about how he could go to jail, how I was tweeting classified information, and he said that **Grenell was acting under direct orders of president Trump to secure a deal to arrest Assange.** ***Now whether that means he gave them an IMF loan - which is what alot of people think*** - or he had just promised the death penalty would be off the table, I don't know. But I do know that after the audio and my timeline leaked to politico, **she [Politico's Bertrand] reached out to the ODNI [Office of the Director of National Intelligence] and within minutes, Arthur had already heard about it and was threatening to sue me.** ***She hadn't even reached out to Arthur yet, so obviously he is getting information and it seems to always be correct.***\n\nShe would go on to play the initial recording, straight from the voice recorder in front of the phone camera to prove that it wasn't doctored as well, as people were accusing her of editing it. But before doing doing so she would say\n\n> I just want to also note that people are saying I cooked up this scheme with Julian but I haven't talked to Julian since he went to prison. I wrote him a letter but I don't think he even got it because the prison told me I could include international postage stamps so he could write back, but then I later found out that you can't include stamps. So I don't even think he got my letters... and they wern't about Grenell or anything.... This was an unsolicited phone call I couldn't have possible have orchestrated. **The only reason I was recording him is because that phone call in October was threatening.**\n\n*\\*Voice starts to shake*\\*\n\n###  \"***If you are going to bring up my daughter in the same sentence as torture, I am gonna record your calls from then on.***\"\n\nShe would then play the initial call with Schwartz begging for his life, which was transcribed first in this article.\n\n>As you can see the date on there is Sept. 10th, Julian was in prison I had not talked to him and ***he called me***. All I had done was tweeted out was like \"***Don't make this guy in charge of the NSA because he worked out the deal to arrest Assange***\" and I was offended that my friends were supporting him. So, **that's all I did...I could not have possible orchestrated this**. Um, yeah, so I guess that's all...**Sorry that the stream got chopped in half, I'm pretty sure that was on purpose because it was someone who had been saying that they were gonna release them[the phone call's and screenshots] even though I asked him not to**..so that's all.. Bye.\n\n---\n\n**Craig Murray**, *a human rights activist as well as a historian and former British ambassador who acquired one of the 16 seats open to members of the public in Julian's case*, **has been [blogging about the extradition case](https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/)**. On the first day, he would report that \n\n>***International jurisprudence had [accepted for a century or more that you did not extradite political offenders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_offence_exception#United_States)***. **No political extradition was in the European Convention on Extradition, the Model United Nations Extradition Treaty and the Interpol Convention on Extradition. It was in every single one of the United States’ extradition treaties with other countries, and had been for over a century,** ***at the insistence of the United States***. **For both the UK and US Governments to say it did not apply was astonishing and would set a terrible precedent that would endanger dissidents and potential political prisoners from China, Russia and regimes all over the world** who had escaped to third countries.\n\n> **Fitzgerald stated that all major authorities agreed there were two types of political offence**. ***The pure political offence and the relative political offence*** ...  **The overriding accusation that Assange was seeking to harm the political and military interests of the United States was in the very definition of a political offence in all the authorities.**\n\nAmerica needs to realize that **our democratic process relies on the Freedom of Press** - ***Citizens cannot make informed decisions in the polling booth if the state gets to decide what media is allowed to print and publish about the government***. **Assange's extradition case is a giant leap towards an unopposed state-run media, in which information that makes the ruling regime look bad is not allowed to be published, a system where voters not allowed to be informed.** \n\n***Wouldn't you like to know if your taxes were funding war-crimes and regime-change operations motivated by corporate interests?*** Cognitive dissonance is the only reason one could desire to be shielded from the reality of this. But **Democracy can not afford forced cognitive dissonance. Truth can not afford the government's allowed interpretation of it**, it cannot afford censorship. **Democracy cannot survive without truth. Democracy cannot survive without political dissidents.** \n### Cassandra's recordings may very well save Assange's life, and even our very democracy.\n\n\n![Unity4J.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNqrXPoLarGYjekrk4BRfnNf7WrnSZfC1Wktmk7t5Patz/Unity4J.jpg)\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I often trip on how <a \nhref=\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CassandraRules</a> is this cute, fragile-looking Bambi-eyed insomniac whose voice sounds like she&#39;s on the verge of tears and all the lefties scorn, but she routinely launches these massive, hydrogen bomb haymakers right at the jaw of the empire like no one else. <a href=\"https://t.co/4ATbxkTU4I\">https://t.co/4ATbxkTU4I</a></p> Caitlin Johnstone ⏳ (@caitoz) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/caitoz/status/1232460737890504705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 26, 2020</a></blockquote> \n\n\n![MadeabenjaminandFairbanks.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc1uGS72GiFV122jVVGeqRn6Vv8V1p8kVjxeYAvsGyFWu/MadeabenjaminandFairbanks.jpg)",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"assange\",\"wikileaks\",\"news\",\"politics\",\"liberty\",\"unity4j\"],\"users\":[\"suzi3d\",\"cassandrarules\",\"caitoz\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmartgUbHwrR7T57oF8c84YKTuS6ANDNannr6zgdt3Uonw/CassandrastandsuptoTrump.jfif\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmf274LeLFJqyTPm72gzecKjGNp4GHcxYSPDB7t5gN9sF6/Julianscreaming3.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfVhQQWvPpqkRyGnkLBxbLAYmGcjFuXaMsYBQ6CHzagwk/AssangepentagonManningtrialIdonthavespecificevidenceofharm.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNqrXPoLarGYjekrk4BRfnNf7WrnSZfC1Wktmk7t5Patz/Unity4J.jpg\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc1uGS72GiFV122jVVGeqRn6Vv8V1p8kVjxeYAvsGyFWu/MadeabenjaminandFairbanks.jpg\"],\"links\":[\"https://twitter.com/TweetBrettMac/status/1232445416089632768\",\"https://protectsuzie.com/\",\"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meet-suzie-dawson-the-nz-journalist-seeking-asylum_b_58ae200de4b0d0d07e7c6713\",\"https://youtu.be/RIDM9IMliwE\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/7u6s91ryJe\",\"https://twitter.com/Suzi3D/status/1232451598187556864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/24/assange-grenell-intelligence-117244\",\"https://twitter.com/cassandrarules\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232443690540421121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.newser.com/story/287214/one-word-being-used-to-describe-new-intel-chief.html\",\"https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8022573/Donald-Trump-makes-Rick-Grenell-director-national-intelligence-gay-cabinet-secretary.html\",\"https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-gave-verbal-pledge-death-penalty-assange-sources/story?id=62414643\",\"https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-trump-jrs-fixer-wages-war-against-the-media\",\"https://www.rt.com/news/481690-assange-arrest-grenell-trump-order/\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232439425629483009\",\"https://twitter.com/BGHeaven/status/1232469084542910464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/TzrZjV4yNJ\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232477330787819520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/vMAT5cCmmm\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232496717632720898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/10/mother-of-julian-assange-president-trump-could-send-a-clear-message-to-the-swamp-by-preemptively-pardoning-my-son/\",\"https://t.co/oYJQeAdZ6L\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1131976303354290176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232502172325203968\",\"https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-37507542\",\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/10/cia-had-access-to-server-where-spanish-company-kept-profiles-on-julian-assanges-guests-including-doctors-diplomats-lawyers-and-journalists/\",\"https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1232505658064461824\",\"https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/\",\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_offence_exception#United_States\",\"https://t.co/4ATbxkTU4I\",\"https://twitter.com/caitoz/status/1232460737890504705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}

{
  "trx_id": "25dc5319d56b5bd8a8d08288c7a1a3ea999b7c0b",
  "block": 41099002,
  "trx_in_block": 50,
  "op_in_trx": 0,
  "virtual_op": 0,
  "timestamp": "2020-02-24T12:15:09",
  "op": [
    "comment",
    {
      "parent_author": "",
      "parent_permlink": "tulsi",
      "author": "mitchellmcguire",
      "permlink": "how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-is-held-to-a-higher-standard-part-two",
      "title": "How and Why Tulsi Gabbard is Held to a Higher Standard (Part Two)",
      "body": "@@ -258,17 +258,16 @@\n xpand it\n-'\n s sphere\n@@ -880,19 +880,25 @@\n  - from \n-her\n+Gabbard's\n  express\n@@ -898,18 +898,21 @@\n expressi\n-ng\n+on of\n  concern\n@@ -1516,16 +1516,17 @@\n sored***\n+.\n %0A%0A---%0A##\n@@ -3968,17 +3968,19 @@\n roups in\n-f\n+ fr\n ont of m\n@@ -4873,16 +4873,36 @@\n ns with \n-\n \n+nonexistent or even \n fabricat\n@@ -5718,19 +5718,23 @@\n ny now. \n-She\n+Gabbard\n  is not \n@@ -6908,16 +6908,17 @@\n yria by%22\n-\n \n+ \n ***helpi\n@@ -8608,16 +8608,17 @@\n s/)%22, %0A%3E\n-\n \n+%22\n In Autum\n",
      "json_metadata": "{\"tags\":[\"gabbard\",\"google\",\"assange\",\"bigtech\",\"megacorp\",\"propaganda\",\"censorship\",\"tulsiwasright\"],\"users\":[\"muradgazdiev\",\"tim\",\"jaredcohen\",\"partisangirl\",\"drrepstein\",\"tulsigabbard\",\"dcexaminer\",\"jackposobiec\",\"benjaminnorton\"],\"image\":[\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYtBFsxteuC6Wm73ydxb5zeiiuF7kukEfm91ohiGTcA6Q/GooglekerrySyria.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmboW4RJNXefwDuSuADttpP9uMRt1PMQrHKu999hzoGbsZ/SchmidtintroducesHillray.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVde8kLjXPPTWUtc24LPJgLm1Wpu9wHvnurjY2wtcmCfs/KissingerSchmidt.png\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcd6gZkE5XaGU2htmzCCTg7Po8XurENk8GBhEsopZ3sX3/ADLcensorship.jpg\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbvd2SYY6xMCzrBuQf5bM8Zj6fEVV1NLQaTRcpcfF6TXs/Googlecoronavirus.jfif\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmV8nV9Qxg6qhBXcywQW8ewHkP1aBqvq4Dsc3fVQ4vxu1n/Twitterpresidentialinterference.jfif\",\"https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdJqhfBgNCi3PxUcjiDhAbCaX67LLtvHe55ZpRw66uX4Q/Alohastops.jpg\"],\"links\":[\"https://steemit.com/tulsi/@mitchellmcguire/how-and-why-tulsi-gabbard-is-held-to-a-higher-standard-and-how-she-holds-herself-to-one-part-one\",\"https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-sanctions-idUSKCN1LI06Z\",\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/24/us/politics/iran-sanctions.html\",\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/22/world/middleeast/us-iran-oil-sanctions-.html\",\"https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/11/05/579118/Iran-US-sanctions-President-Rouhani-break-sanctions\",\"http://ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/featured-articles/2020/january/23/trade-sanctions-are-both-immoral-and-ineffective/\",\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/completely-despicable-tulsi-gabbard-rips-into-cnn-and-new-york-times-during-their-presidential-debate\",\"https://levantreport.com/2015/05/19/2012-defense-intelligence-agency-document-west-will-facilitate-rise-of-islamic-state-in-order-to-isolate-the-syrian-regime/\",\"https://t.co/dJzxH0brAw\",\"https://twitter.com/MuradGazdiev/status/1218801558999175168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/eluZI7kMg1\",\"https://twitter.com/Tim_Hayward_/status/1220365791494799361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/tulsi-gabbard-says-she-has-no-regrets-about-meeting-with-syrian-president-bashar-al-assad/2019/01/20/4006f920-1ce3-11e9-9145-3f74070bbdb9_story.html\",\"https://www.newsweek.com/tulsi-gabbard-kamala-harris-assad-apologist-cnn-debate-1452049\",\"https://www.newsweek.com/tulsi-gabbard-bashar-assad-controversy-explained-1452141\",\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/clinton-email-reveals-google-sought-overthrow-of-syrias-assad\",\"https://wikileaks.org/google-is-not-what-it-seems/\",\"https://themindunleashed.com/2019/05/leaked-opcw-report-shatters-official-syria-narrative.html\",\"https://thehill.com/homenews/media/450601-gabbard-is-most-searched-on-google-after-democratic-debate\",\"https://thehill.com/homenews/media/450597-drudge-instant-poll-shows-tulsi-gabbard-winning-first-democratic-debate-in\",\"http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/poll-who-do-you-think-won-the-first-democratic-debate-vote-now\",\"https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/tulsi-gabbard-sues-google-for-usd-50-million-for-stifling-her-2020-us-prez-campaign/articleshow/70393657.cms?from=mdr\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1154444505090629633\",\"https://tulsi.to/tulsi-vs-google\",\"https://www.businessinsider.com/wikileaks-emails-google-eric-schmidt-relationship-with-clintons-2016-11\",\"https://thewashingtonsentinel.com/hillary-clinton-on-assange-cant-we-just-drone-this-guy/\",\"https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-10-22/information-googles-ties-us-government-wikileaks%E2%80%99-next-focus\",\"https://www.newsweek.com/tulsi-gabbard-julian-assange-edward-swowden-pardon-dropped-charges-joe-rogan-1425802\",\"https://pjmedia.com/election/tulsi-gabbard-plans-to-take-on-big-tech-im-going-to-break-up-these-monopolies/\",\"https://twitter.com/JaredCohen/status/1212024191224078342\",\"https://twitter.com/JaredCohen/status/1213528337441796097\",\"https://twitter.com/ksadjadpour/status/1214565555304202243\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iranians?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Solemani?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/JaredCohen/status/1213522413834690560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soleimani?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/AppleOfHeaven/status/1214352188643794944\",\"https://twitter.com/Partisangirl/status/1214361947832893440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/JaredCohen/status/1212949164516134913\",\"https://twitter.com/JaredCohen/status/1216108715423739904\",\"https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/16/21069458/google-alphabet-trillion-dollar-market-cap-apple-microsoft\",\"https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/opinion/sunday/the-banality-of-googles-dont-be-evil.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0\",\"https://www.theverge.com/2013/6/7/4402320/new-digital-age-eric-schmidt-julian-assange-google\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Google?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Misti?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/D2lw4e7QPI\",\"https://t.co/c7zT1nn4K0\",\"https://twitter.com/DrREpstein/status/1219132227021348864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7834593/Google-whistleblowers-wife-29-killed-car-crash.html\",\"https://t.co/OrdOqH0ZFB\",\"https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1105592966482059264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/02/02/politics/facebook-democrats-disinformation-iowa/index.html?__twitter_impression=true\",\"https://twitter.com/MSDNCNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/SoFxoZtxwI\",\"https://twitter.com/dcexaminer/status/1221941840582189056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/vGmFkfvZUy\",\"https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/1222745795868463104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\",\"https://t.co/Vqkh0ABPWu\",\"https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1223409032117002240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"],\"app\":\"steemit/0.2\",\"format\":\"markdown\"}"
    }
  ]
}