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PBC News & Comment: Dangerous Disinformation and Crackpot Reports Flourish

In the attempted execution of LA Deputies, and unhinged speculation about western wildfires, internet amplifies the lies, increasing danger….--after execution-style attempted killing of the LA Sheriff deputies in Compton last weekend, online rumors and Sheriff Villanueva made matters worse

--next to Compton, Lynwood’s city manager is suspended for Instagram post that deplored violence but put the shootings in proper context

--a small number of fires in California and Oregon are blamed on arson

--in Oregon, the Holiday Farm fire, a major one, is blamed on power line explosion

--Oregon environmentalist Kevin Matthews shares video of “managed” timber zone in Oregon that burned as quickly as the untouched forestlands

--the DEW freaks are back, with animations of purported energy beams targeted at existing wildfire locations

--whistleblower from DC National Guard says feds sought secret “heat ray” to use on protesters near White House

--in real wildfire news, air quality in Bay Area has improved dramatically, but toxic air remains in Oregon and Washington

--tyrannical AG Bill Barr slams his own prosecutors, talked about placing criminal charges against Seattle and Portland Mayors, and filed federal arson charges against Portland protester who started dumpster fire

--echoing Trump, Barr and Michael Caputo, Rush Limbaugh uses heavy projection to claim Libtard Dems are big threat to the republic

--Twitter again “flags” Trump’s big lies about mail in voting, as Pennsylvania extends deadline for postal votes, and keeps Greens off the ballot

--former senator and DNI Dan Coats proposes a bipartisan elections commission

--former model Amy Dorris becomes Trump’s latest accuser of sex assault

--Trump’s looting of the taxpayers continues—Secret Service paid Trump golf club $17,000/month for rooms when the club was shut down

--NY Times breaks its blackout of Assange hearing for fluffy report on tech glitches

--we get detailed coverage from Shadowproof, ConsortiumNews, and the estimable Craig Murray

--NY Times finally reports “uncorroborated” claims of forced sterilization of female ICE prisoners, and Natasha Lennard recaps America’s ugly history

--Speaker Pelosi continues to press to $2.2 trillion Covid relief package

--New Jersey passes millionaire’s tax in blatant income distribution plan

--in North Carolina, a right-to-work-for-less state, nurses score big organizing victory

--our daily Covid-19 update, prepared by Linda Lewis

--Columbia Journalism Review exposes how Gates Foundation buys fawning coverage on NPR and many other outlets