Special LiveTweet, Thursday, August 6:
Do you see the inherent humor in the Republican presidential contest? WhoWhatWhy Editor Russ Baker does. Russ has been known to tweet hilarious instant “analysis” during past presidential debates, and he will do so again on Thursday, both for the “unpopular Republicans” debate from 5-6pm ET and during the “leading contenders” debate from 9-11pm ET, where else but Fox. You can catch all the action by following his twitter feed, @RealRussBaker. Over at @WhoWhatWhy, we’ll retweet some of the more R-rated material. LOL. Please join us…and tell friends.
NOW LIVE ON WhoWhatWhy
Germany Sacks Top Prosecutor Over Investigation of Journalists
By Klaus Marre
In a case with echoes in the US, Germany’s top prosecutor got the boot as a result of his decision to launch an investigation into whether bloggers had committed treason by publishing confidential documents. The prosecutor’s move resulted in Germans taking to the streets to defend freedom of the (digital) press.
WHO
The Day After 9/11, Kagan Father-Son Duo Said ‘Take the War’ to Palestine
Mondoweiss examines a new video showing Neo-Conservative doyens Frederick and Robert Kagan the day after the 9/11 attacks. Both were highly influential among the group of Neo-Conservatives that leveraged 9/11 into the illicit invasion of Iraq. And, apparently, both were gung-ho to use 9/11 as a pretext to attack the Occupied Territories and the Palestinian Authority.
Top Defense Contractors Spend Millions to Get Billions
Businesses expect profitable returns on capital outlays. It’s called “Return on Investment” and every semester it’s taught in Business 101 courses. As this report byThe Center for Public Integrity details, it’s also fundamental to the deployment of an army of defense industry lobbyists to Capitol Hill. Boeing, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon all want a bigger piece of a bigger defense budget. And they are getting a good “Return on Investment.”
Jon Stewart, Sarcastic Critic of Politics and Media, Is Signing Off
This is Jon Stewart’s last day on the set of The Daily Show. In fact, the set is beingrelocated to the Newseum right after he signs off. It’s indicative of the impact Stewart’s 16-year run had on popular culture, political journalism and the news media. Althoughcritics and supporters may disagree about Stewart’s style and substance, there is little doubt that Stewart is leaving at the top of his game.
WHAT
The ‘Sanitised Narrative’ of Hiroshima’s Atomic Bombing
Today is the 70th anniversary of the leveling of Hiroshima. The historical argument over Truman’s decision is as divisive as ever—some say he had no choice, while others say both bombings were unnecessary and, in fact, tantamount to terrorism. What isn’t up for debate is the devastating effect and staggering civilian toll resulting from the only use of nuclear weapons in human history. Also see the WhoWhatWhy exclusive series on Hiroshima and the extent to which the US government hid the truth.
WHY
Why Are Americans Switching to Renewable Energy? Because It’s Actually Cheaper
In spite of skyrocketing production and declining oil prices, it turns out that renewables are still beating hydrocarbons for the bottom line. The problem for the dinosaur industry is that hydraulic fracturing is an expensive process. The fracking boom is causing a bust as the oil glut guts smaller producers. Meanwhile, wind and solar capacity has tripled over the last seven years. Even better, these “sustainable” sources are… sustainable. Wind and solar don’t dry up like a fracked well.
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