July 27
10,000 March on Philadelphia to Demand Climate Justice, The Third Party Election?, ISIS Attack on Kurds Deadliest in Years, and More Picks
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
Facebook Admits to Blocking Links to Wikileaks’ DNC Emails (Jeff C.)
The social network’s CSO Alex Stamos claimed the site’s algorithm may have denoted the links as spam or malicious content, and stated that the issue had been “fixed.” The incident is the latest in a string of controversies regarding the censorship of content on Facebook.
Could Third Parties Determine This Election? (Trevin)
The New York Times asks if the extraordinary unpopularity of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton could make more voters look at Gary Johnson and Jill Stein. A Utah poll has Johnson performing equally with Trump and Clinton, which could hand one of the reddest states in the country to a Democrat.
10K Marchers in Philadelphia Call for Green Energy Revolution (Dan)
Marchers gathered on one of the hottest days of the year to call for a fracking ban, investment in renewable energy sources, and environmental justice. Notable groups such as We Are Seneca Lake and ACTION United appeared at the march. The daughter of slain Honduran environmental activist Berta Cáceres, Laura Zuñiga Cáceres, also spoke.
Global Central Banks Are All-In (Jeff C.)
Quantitative easing – also known as dangerously loose monetary policy in a desperate bid to maintain banking liquidity – is running at a record $180 Billion Per Month … and rising.
‘Security Experts’ Believe Russia Was Behind DNC Email Leak, Despite Scant Evidence (Dan)
‘Guccifer 2.0’, a copycat of hacker ‘Guccifer’, is claiming responsibility for the DNC hack. Though claiming to be Romanian, language experts and journalists believe the syntax and actions seem closer to Russian-state power. However, like North Korea’s apparent hack of Sony Pictures in 2014, the allegations are entirely conjecture.
ISIS Claims Responsibility for Attack on Kurds in Syria, Deadliest in Years According to Rights Group (Jesse)
The death toll is hovering at 50 but is expected to rise in IS attack on Kurdish stronghold of Northeastern Syria. The US-backed Kurdish YPG forces have taken back or maintained areas of territory from the extremist group amid the ongoing Syrian civil war. While the death toll expected higher than the Orlando shootings, Western media maintains double standard.
