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Joan Halgren's avatar

Marianne, I watched most of the televised podcast and found it distressing. As a former journalist and advocate of my local university's school of journalism, I intend to send this discussion to the head of the school. Also, I will send an ardent letter to both of my State's U.S. Senators--one being Sen. Amy Klobuchar: she shows great respect for our Constitution and First Amendment rights, so I hope my points gain her attention, particularly, since she serves on the Judiciary Committee, and she's very skilled as a prosecuting attorney--as you may have noted when she questioned now Associate Justice of the Supereme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Finally, I appreciated your bringing a historical perspective into much of the discussion as well as alluding to those indirectly benefitting by the 'secrets' held by our military--the toxic link between our government and the corporate defense sector. Keep safe!

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JWalters's avatar

In addition, I appreciated Marianne's clear and inspiring call to action (which prompted Krystal Ball to say, "Marianne Williamson for President!") This event is SO important, because it is a unified front against a predatory force that has imposed a thick blanket of coordinated corruption and silence over our press and politics. It is literally a battle to save civilization. This unfortunately is not an exaggeration

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Joan Halgren's avatar

JWalters, I totally agree with your assessment, however, the apathy and dumming down of many U.S. citizens is not a good harbinger of success to reverse course but we must try for reasons of moral value!

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JWalters's avatar

Valid points, thank you. At the same time, it doesn't require much intelligence to understand one have been swindled if one is simply informed. If Americans can be weened from their diets of official disinformation ... things could change pretty fast. People really don't like finding out they've been lied to. With Justice and sanity we could reverse the dumbing down process.

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Joan Halgren's avatar

People need to be very loud upstanders, and we may save this country from its current ugly path. Now chaos seems to reign, so maybe there will be better chances in the days ahead? We shall learn.

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Vi Mooberry's avatar

I watched all three hours of this timely and fascinating discussion. Thank you to all who made it possible. I have always been a believer in the rights of Julian Assange as a journalist and will speak out even more, especially to the White House. I , sadly, have many friends who have been fed the corporate media, military complex, and political party misinformation. I will continue to make noise with you!

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Renny's avatar

Any chance this is recorded for playback?

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JWalters's avatar

I see the financial oligarchy is sabotaging Marianne's comment section. They has previously done this at Truthdig, Consortium News, Mondoweiss, the PBS Newshour, and others. Sorry to see they have their tentacles in the substack comment handling service too. When these comments are restored later, look through them and see which one(s) they were probably trying to hide.

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JWalters's avatar

Here's a timely article on the mainstream press concealing our march toward more war, something Julian Assange would definitely not do. "Israel pushes U.S. into ‘aggressive posture toward Iran that could spiral into war’ — but mainstream press is indifferent"

https://mondoweiss.net/2021/12/israel-pushes-u-s-into-aggressive-posture-toward-iran-that-could-spiral-into-war-but-mainstream-press-is-indifferent/

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JWalters's avatar

"Why are the New York Times and the Washington Post so quiet about this attack on the freedom of the press? "

The financial oligarchy began its control of the press in 1915 when the JP Morgan bank bought editorial control of the 25 most influential newspapers in America. Their control of the mainstream media is not new. The JP Morgan bank became the dominant bank in America by becoming an extension of the dominant bank in Europe. That bank achieved its dominance by becoming he dominant bank in the British East India Company, and hence the British Empire, dealing drugs and wars.

Multi-million (now billion) dollar companies come into existence with money from these elite investors, who take a controlling stake in the company, and direct the company's policies, including predatory policies. This is how all America's mainstream media companies are coordinated in their covering up central information, and telling the same lies, all in unison, behaving like the monopoly they are. And it's how the media monopoly is so well coordinated with other predatory monopolies, such as Big War, Big Energy, and Big Pharma.

In political campaigns their overwhelming financial power, plus the power to deliver good or bad press, gives them a virtual lock on which political candidates make it into office. So they have a political monopoly as well, and the government bends to their will.

But unlike a monarchy, in a voting democracy they require secrecy. That is there Achilles Heel. More information on this financial mafia, and key financial steps to neuter them, are in "War Profiteer Story"

https://warprofiteerstory.blogspot.com

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Joan Halgren's avatar

Thank you for sharing excellent sourcing.

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Oscar Carter's avatar

Now you’re talking Marianne! Let’s do this. I will be there.

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Christy's avatar

You’re such an excellent communicator and writer Marianne. Eloquently and powerfully delivered important article.

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Perla Lovejoy's avatar

Thank you for continuing to instruct us and help us enter the world everyday with wide open eyes and true vision. At times I feel so small in the face the behemoth government and the media and my sadness and concern is not enough but once in a while we can make a difference.

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JWalters's avatar

The First Amendment is designed to protect the public from criminals who reach the pinnacles of power. The Espionage Act is designed to protect criminals who reach the pinnacles of power from the public.

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Joan Halgren's avatar

Yes, indeed JWalters! You got it! The truth is rather ugly on this topic, like so many others today!

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Amylouise Donnelly's avatar

Still not with you on this, but love you much, Marianne.

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JWalters's avatar

I suggest you watch the show and learn the facts. Happening right now.

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Amylouise Donnelly's avatar

Thank you for your comment. I'm sorry to say - because it's the clear minority opinion here, that I stand by my belief that absolutely NO ONE has the right to make a unilateral decision to publish sensitive information that they don't have the right to access, and for which they cannot take meaningful responsibility once it becomes public knowledge. This Assange did, and did to the detriment of American diplomacy all over the world. And he was constantly threatening to do more.

While I feel for the man himself, because he is clearly suffering from mental illness (quite possibly brought on by his long absence from the rest of humanity), and the consequences of a stroke, which could be lethal if he doesn't get adequate medical care, I also feel for the numerous State Department and other American service personnel who were put at grave risk by his Wikileaks actions and threats.

The man was materially responsible for the election of Donald Trump. Putin found his organization very useful in the achievement of that goal, a major one for his Duma. They CHEERED when Trump was elected, mostly because they did all they could to help make that happen. Wikileaks was one of their main information sources in this effort.

I stand by my words. Let him out of prison on compassionate release and let him get the medical care he needs, but convict him of the crime of violating American National Security first. There must be a price paid for the damage he did to American foreign policy and especially for his collaboration with Putin to get Trump elected.

I say this not to condemn the man who I see as diplomatically naive, but the act, which had very serious consequences.

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Dec 17, 2021
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Amylouise Donnelly's avatar

Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate the time you took to offer it to me.

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Piki V's avatar

It is amazing how the whole world is now being pulled into the atrocities of the Pentagon. And to see the spiders everywhere, eager to jump on the train with them; NATO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Frontex etc... One of the most cold expressions of this is the poisonous global geo-engineering, the field which pulls everything happening on earth right now, together. It is profoundly heartbreaking. P.V. (Belgium).

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Joan Halgren's avatar

Specifically, P.V. which global engineering are you most concerned about? Please share. I am interested to know your thoughts on this topic.

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Dec 15, 2021
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Joan Halgren's avatar

What external partners do you think are willing to go up against the our toxic establishment since they may think they will lose ground by doing so. Curious to know your angle here. But, indeed, to save this democracy requires help from many resources.

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