Watch the replay of a discussion about the case of Julian Assange one year after his arrest with Dan Ellsberg, Chris Hedges, Marjorie Cohn & Aaron Mate.
Journalism is on trial in the case of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange, who was arrested in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on April 11, 2019. Watch here a discussion about the issues of freedom of the press and the power of the state to crush it with Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, journalist and author Chris Hedges, emeritus professor of law Marjorie Cohn, and journalist Aaron Mate.
Watch the replay here courtesy of the Courage Foundation:
Very much appreciated for the depth of coverage, the debunking of media-inspired lies, and description of media cowardice in response to Assange’s plight and the consequences for journalism and the future of the First Amendment.
Several tangential things did, however, catch and hold my attention.
Both Cohn and Ellsberg made a point of encouraging U$ians to vote for Joe Biden as the lesser weevil. A perspective with which Aaron Mate (Ma-tay) agrees.
Mate asked Hedges to refrain from making s political point. It is very likely, even certain, that Hedges does not consider that there is an electoral solution to the nature and scope of the crisis now faced by the U$ public, a perspective with which I happen to agree.
I found Hedges’ brief allusion to goings on at Truthdig from which, he said, all journalists, including himself, had been fired.
For quite some time it has been apparent that a number of “progressive” alternative “news” sites have been facing their own crises of whether to adhere to mainstream narratives or encourage viewpoints at deliberate odds with the “accepted” perspectives around such “issues” as Russiagate, or the stories circulated about Assange, or to simply ignore, as much as possible, the plights of Assange and Manning.
I confess that I have long respected Robert Scheer, having first encountered his work in early 1965 when my father presented me Scheer’s slim volume, “How the United States got involved in Vietnam”, which very much helped solidify my already strong disgust with U$ behavior.
The publisher and CEO of Truthdig, Zuade Kaufman, published an “Open Lettet”, at Truthdig, to Truthdig readers that very much differs from the perspectives of some of those who worked at Truthdig. Kaufman’ s letter accused Scheer of numerous things.
The letter may be read at Truthdig.
At popular resistance . org, Truthdig employees present a very different accounting of what has gone on.
I recommend that both perspectives be examined.
Zuade Kaufman, who comes from a background of substantial familial wealth, is credited with essentially bankrolling Robert Scheer and Truthdig, of which Scheer had been Editor-in-Chief, from the beginning.
My concerns, my questions, are severalfold;
1. Are “progressive” sites of significant size, simply top-down ownership endeavors?
2. What does the term, “progressive”, actually mean, that is, its definition, in publishing, in politics, and in general discussion?
3. Progressive sites claim, among other things, to value and serve “transparency”. Considering what has gone on at Truthdig and the disappearance of journalists at The Real News, without explanation, including Aaron Mate (soon after he totally debunked a major Rusduagater), and two other long-term members of that “team”, one cannot help but wonder what and who are deemed “fit” by “management”?
4. These “things” are apparently excused by a traditional, suck-it-up notion, implied or explicit, that “This is just how things work”. Thus, it cannot be openly discussed in polite company, and most other “progressive” sites offer neither coverage or comment.
Seemingly, such things are private and privileged.
Is this really progress?
Or just more of the same in prettier packages with more alluring ribbons?
Britain, try to save the remnants of your honor and release Julian Assange immediately!
Thanks for this great discussion. Thanks to CN and thanks to Julian for telling us the truth about the US war crimes. He is a hero.
(The journalist mentioned by Chris is Joseph Roth who died 1937 fleeing the Nazis. He wrote some great books as well.)
Set him free! Violations of freedom of the press and the right to freedom of speech. As an expatriat I say freedom now!
Great discussion by three people of quality, truthful and wise. Thanks, Aaron Mate for bringing this to us. I’ve read, followed and admired these heroes for a long time. It startles me that people who are otherwise quite intelligent still find the New York Times to be the paper to read. Even the magazine known for being the best fact checker in the business, the New Yorker, fell, in these times of Trump, into riding the bandwagon of “Russiagate” and “Assange used chemicals on his own people,” proven each time that he didn’t, once, by the way, by none other than Sy Hersh. The New Yorker even went so far as to print Masha Gessen, for god’s sake.
Aaron, you might consider a panel with John Pilger and a past member of the Australian Parliament whose last printing of books never made it across the ocean (you probably know the guy, can’t remember his name, Pilger knows). They are Julian’s countrymen and smart as all get out.
Thanks, again, for doing what you do.
There’s really no discussion to be had. Julian Assange is a hero of the people, a political prisoner, and a victim of torture. Iran recently released all political prisoners because they wouldn’t wish the Covid-19 virus even on their enemies, yet Britain refuses to do that for this great man who never committed any crime.
Release him now, Britain!
Ah, thanks for embedding the YouTube. :)