Zero Hedge — Senate Declares War On Assange

Realizing the gravity of the situation of becoming a persona non grata to the US government (and CIA), Assange then siad that “it is an interesting thought experiment to consider where other media outlets lay on this spectrum. It is clear that if the 'Pompeo doctrine' applies to WikiLeaks then it applies equally if not more so to other serious outlets."

Outlawing dissent while privileging official propaganda transmitted via compliant media. The road to tyranny leads through the US deep state and the US government. Surprised?

Zero Hedge
Senate Declares War On Assange

Tyler Durden

Also

In April, Trump’s newly appoint CIA Director Mike Pompeo branded WikiLeaks a “hostile non-state intelligence agency” which, according to Zerohedge, meant that Wikileaks would not be afforded the protections of the First Amendment under the constitution.

The Duran
CIA colludes with Congress to brand Wikileaks a “hostile non-state intelligence agency”

Alex Christoforou

see also

Zero Tolerance - Venice Mayor Orders Cops To Shoot Anyone Who Shouts 'Allahu Akbar'

Reporter and Press Freedom Advocate James Risen to Join The Intercept and First Look Media

James Risen, who, as a best-selling author and New York Times reporter, has broken some of the biggest stories of the post-9/11 period, is joining The Intercept as our senior national security correspondent, based in Washington, D.C. Risen will write a reported column on national security and other national issues, as well as help to lead The Intercept’s investigative reporting efforts.

Risen will have a unique dual leadership position at First Look Media, because in addition to his editorial role at The Intercept, he will also serve as director of the Press Freedom Defense Fund, which is dedicated to supporting news organizations, journalists, and whistleblowers in legal fights where a substantial public interest, freedom of the press, or related human or civil right is at stake. Recently, the Press Freedom Defense Fund announced its support for the legal defense of Reality Winner, who is accused of leaking a top-secret NSA document on Russian election hacking to The Intercept.

Risen was himself a target of the U.S. government’s crackdown on journalists and whistleblowers. He waged a seven-year battle, risking jail after the Bush administration and later the Obama administration sought to force him to testify and reveal his confidential sources in a leak investigation. Risen never gave in, and the government finally backed down.... 

The Intercept
Reporter and Press Freedom Advocate James Risen to Join The Intercept and First Look Media
Betsy Reed

Patrick G. Eddington — The “Pardon Snowden” Case Just Got Stronger

Cato gets one right, but it's not about economics.

Cato Institute — Cato At Liberty
The “Pardon Snowden” Case Just Got Stronger
Patrick G. Eddington

Spencer Ackerman and Ewen MacAskill — Snowden calls for whistleblower shield after claims by new Pentagon source

The account of John Crane, a former senior Pentagon investigator, appears to undermine Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and other major establishment figures who argue that there were established routes for Snowden other than leaking to the media.

Crane, a longtime assistant inspector general at the Pentagon, has accused his old office of retaliating against a major surveillance whistleblower, Thomas Drake, in an episode that helps explain Snowden’s 2013 National Security Agency disclosures. Not only did Pentagon officials provide Drake’s name to criminal investigators, Crane told the Guardian, they destroyed documents relevant to his defence.

Snowden, responding to Crane’s revelations, said he had tried to raise his concerns with colleagues, supervisors and lawyers and been told by all of them: “You’re playing with fire.”

The Guardian
Snowden calls for whistleblower shield after claims by new Pentagon source

Spencer Ackerman and Ewen MacAskill

Glenn Greenwald — NSA Blows Its Own Top Secret Program in Order to Propagandize

Hypocrisy? Compare Nixon: The president doing it makes it legal.

The Intercept
NSA Blows Its Own Top Secret Program in Order to Propagandize
Glenn Greenwald

Max Blumenthal — Shocking 'Extermination' Fantasies By the People Running America's Empire on Full Display at Aspen Summit

A close up look at the scary people in charge. Well-intentioned but severely misguided about civil rights, human rights, the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, law, and democracy.

The military mind at work in the context of empire — the end justifies all means regardless of unintended and unforeseen consequences that the CIA calls "blowback." Frighteningly short-sighted and crass.

This is a big reason that there is civilian control of the military and separation of military and domestic security forces. The lines are now extremely blurred, and the wall of secrecy is so thick that it is difficult for the public to know what is going on or what their fate is.

AlterNet
Shocking 'Extermination' Fantasies By the People Running America's Empire on Full Display at Aspen Summit

Max Blumenthal